Patent Application
20220295814
The present disclosure relates to tea compositions and related methods of manufacture. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to compositions including tea disposed in an outer shell and methods of manufacturing the same.
The written disclosure herein describes illustrative embodiments that are non-limiting and non-exhaustive. Reference is made to certain of such illustrative embodiments that are depicted in the figures, in which:
It will be readily understood by one of skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The phrase “coupled to” is used in its ordinary sense, and is broad enough to refer to any suitable coupling or other form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, fluid, and thermal interaction. Two components may be coupled to each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other. For example, two components may be coupled to each other through an intermediate component.
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, the outer shell 101 is hollow inside. In other words, the outer shell 101 includes a hollow interior cavity or space 103. For instance, the outer shell 101 can include two or more pieces, shells, or portions 102, 104 that are coupled together to form a cavity or void 103. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the outer shell 101 includes first and second portions 102, 104 that are joined or otherwise coupled together. In some embodiments, the first and second portions 102, 104 form halves of the outer shell 101. In particular embodiments, the first and second portions 102, 104 form substantially hemispherical halves of the outer shell 101. In other embodiments, the first and second portions 102, 104 do not form halves, as one portion may be larger and the other portion may be smaller. In yet further embodiments, the outer shell 101 may be formed of more than two portions 102, 104.
The outer shell 101 can be made of various materials. In some embodiments, the outer shell 101 is formed of an edible material. The outer shell 101 may also be soluble such that it dissolves in a liquid solvent such as water. Exemplary materials that can be used to form the outer shell 101 include, but are not limited to, glucose syrup, sugar, and a liquid solvent. Exemplary glucose syrups that can be used include corn syrup. Exemplary sugars that can be used include, but are not limited to, cane sugars, beet sugars, and combinations thereof. The sugars can also be organic and/or vegan if desired. Exemplary liquid solvents that can be used include water.
One or more additives can also optionally be added to the outer shell 101 as desired. For example, in some embodiments, the outer shell 101 includes one or more of sweetener(s), flavoring(s), spice(s), colorants (e.g., white or other colored food colorings), edible glitters, edible confetti, or combinations thereof. Exemplary sweeteners include, but are not limited to, honey and agave (e.g., agave syrup or nectar). Exemplary flavorings include, but are not limited to, vanilla and vanilla bean. Other flavorings can also be used. The outer shell 101 can also include one or more of a Cannabis concentrate, liquid (e.g., oil), or extract. In particular embodiments, the outer shell 101 includes one or more of a Cannabis concentrate, liquid (e.g., oil), or extract comprising CBD (cannabidiol) and/or THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). In other embodiments, no Cannabis concentrates, liquids, or extracts are used.
In some embodiments, the outer shell 101 is formed from a mixture that comprises glucose syrup (e.g., corn syrup), sugar (e.g., vegan sugar), and a liquid solvent (e.g., water). The liquid solvent (e.g., water) can be used during manufacture of the outer shell 101 but is not observable when the outer shell 101 is solidified and/or cured. In some embodiments, this mixture used to form the outer shell 101 can include between about 15% and about 35% by volume of glucose syrup, or between about 15% and about 30% by volume of glucose syrup. The mixture can also include between about 60% and about 85% by volume of sugar. The mixture can also include between about 5% and about 25% by volume of liquid solvent, or between about 5% and about 15% by volume of liquid solvent.
In some embodiments, the outer shell 101 is transparent such that any contents 122 disposed in the tea globe 100 can be observed through the outer shell 101. In other embodiments, the outer shell 101 is translucent or semitransparent. And in yet other embodiments, the outer shell 101 is opaque.
Additional colorants and/or decorative elements 120 can also be included in or on the outer shell 101 as desired. For instance, in some embodiments, the outer surface of the outer shell 101 is painted (e.g., airbrushed), coated, or otherwise colored with a colorant. The tea globe 100 can also include one or more decorative elements 120 disposed thereon. The one or more decorative elements 120 can be solely for decorative purposes, or can also be used to sweeten or add flavor to the tea globe 100. In the illustrated embodiment of
As shown in
In certain embodiments, the thickness of the upper and/or lower regions 112, 114 of the outer shell 101 is between about 0.3 mm and about 2 mm, and the thickness of the middle region 116 is between about 0.1 mm and about 0.5 mm. As further discussed below, this difference in thickness can aid in a controlled opening of the tea globe 100 when the tea globe 100 is disposed in a liquid.
With reference to each individual portion 102, 104 of the outer shell 101, the central region 132, 134 of the portion 102, 104 has a greater thickness than the edge or rim region 136, 138. Further, the thickness gradually decreases as it moves from the central region 132, 134 towards the edge or rim region 136, 138. In some embodiments, the thickness of the central region 132, 134 of the portion 102, 104 of the outer shell 101 is more than two times, three times, or four times greater than the thickness at the edge or rim 136, 138. In certain embodiments, the thickness of the central regions 132, 134 of the portion 102, 104 of the outer shell 101 is between about 0.3 mm and about 2 mm, and the thickness at the edge or rim 136, 138 is between about 0.1 mm and about 0.5 mm.
The contents 122 of the tea globe 100 in
Methods of manufacturing tea globes 100 are also disclosed herein. In some embodiments, manufacturing tea globes includes forming an outer shell 101. In forming the outer shell 101, one or more materials, ingredients, or components can be combined to form a mixture. For example, in some embodiments, a mixture is formed comprising glucose syrup, sugar, and a liquid solvent. One or more additional additives, including, but not limited to, sweetener(s), flavoring(s), spice(s), colorants, edible glitters, edible confetti, Cannabis concentrates, oils, or extracts can also be included as set forth above. The mixture can then be heated to a temperature of between about 290° F. and about 310° F., or between about 295° F. and about 305° F. In some embodiments, the mixture is heated to a hard crack temperature. The mixture can also be heated such that it is boiling. In certain embodiments, the heated mixture can comprise a substantially homogenous liquid composition in which the sugars within the mixture have been dissolved.
After heating and mixing, the mixture can be cooled (e.g., removed from heat). For example, the mixture can be cooled to a temperature where the mixture is no longer boiling. In some embodiments, the mixture is cooled to a temperature of between about 250° F. and about 290° F., or between about 270° F. and about 285° F. If desired, one or more additional additives, including, but not limited to, sweetener(s), flavoring(s), spice(s), colorants, edible glitters, edible confetti, Cannabis concentrates, oils, or extracts can also be included during this step.
Prior to the solidifying, the mixture can be poured into or otherwise applied to a mold 140. An exemplary mold 140 that can be used is depicted in
After the mixture has been applied to the mold 140, the mixture may be allowed to further cool and/or cure, such as to a temperature close to room temperature. As the mixture cools and/or cures, it transitions from a liquid state to a solid state to form a portion 102, 104 of the outer shell 101. Once the mixture has solidified, the portion 102, 104 of the outer shell 101 can be removed from the mold 140. Contents 122, including one or more tea bags 124 and/or one or more additives 126, 128 can thereafter be added to the portion 102, 104 of the outer shell 101. After the contents 122 are loaded into the portion 102, 104 of the outer shell 101, two portions 102, 104 can be coupled or otherwise joined together as previously discussed to form a tea globe 100. If desired, colorants and/or decorative elements 120 can be applied to the outer shell 101 as previously discussed.
In certain embodiments, optional mold inserts 144 can be used to aid in forming the portion 102, 104 of the outer shell 101. The optional mold inserts 144 can be disposed in the cavities 142 of the mold 144 after the mixture is applied to the cavities 142. The optional mold inserts 144 can include a substantially hemispherical surface and can define the interior surface of the portion 102, 104 being molded in the cavity 142. The optional mold inserts 144 can also include an elongate member for grasping to aid in removing the molded portion 102, 104 from the cavity 142. For instance, the molded portion 102, 104 may be temporarily bonded to the optional mold insert 144 such that it can be removed from the cavity 142 as the user withdraws the optional mold insert 144 from the cavity 142. The molded portion 102, 104 can thereafter be removed from the optional mold insert 144 and used to form a tea globe 100 as set forth above.
Non-limiting examples of various embodiments disclosed herein are presented in the examples below:
Tea globes were formed in accordance with the following procedures. A mixture of about 20% vol corn syrup, 70% vol vegan sugar, and 10% vol water was mixed and heated to a hard crack temperature of about 300° F. After heating the mixture to about 300° F., the mixture was allowed to cool for one to two minutes until the mixture stopped boiling. The mixture was then poured into a mold having hemispherical cavities such that the mixture flowed down the sides of the cavities and towards the centers thereof. A second layer of the mixture was then applied to the cavities above the first layer and the mixture was allowed to cool and solidify. After solidifying, the hemispherical portions were removed from the mold cavities. The hemispherical portions were generally hollow and had a varying thickness, with the center region having a greater thickness than the rim or edge regions. Tea bags were then added into the cavities within the hemispherical portions. Remaining portions of the heated, liquid mixture were then applied to the rims of the hemispherical portions and second hemispherical portions were coupled thereto to form a plurality of tea globes. The tea globes were thereafter airbrushed or otherwise painted with a colorant to achieve a desired color.
During use, a tea globe from Example 1 was submerged in a pitcher of water. The water was stirred and the outer shell of the tea globe began to dissolve. The outer shell first dissolved at the central region having the lowest thickness. Upon dissolution of the central region, the hemispherical portions opened and released the tea bag from the tea globe. The water was stirred to distribute the flavoring and then consumed.
References to approximations are made throughout this specification, such as by use of the terms “about.” For each such reference, it is to be understood that, in some embodiments, the value, feature, or characteristic may be specified without approximation. For example, where qualifiers such as “about” or “substantially” are used, these terms include within their scope the qualified words in the absence of their qualifiers. All disclosed ranges also include both endpoints.
Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “the embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the quoted phrases, or variations thereof, as recited throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of embodiments, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than those expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment.
The claims following this written disclosure are hereby expressly incorporated into the present written disclosure, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. This disclosure includes all permutations of the independent claims with their dependent claims. Moreover, additional embodiments capable of derivation from the independent and dependent claims that follow are also expressly incorporated into the present written description.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to utilize the invention to its fullest extent. The claims and embodiments disclosed herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and exemplary, and not a limitation of the scope of the present disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, with the aid of the present disclosure, that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the disclosure herein. In other words, various modifications and improvements of the embodiments specifically disclosed in the description above are within the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the invention is therefore defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
