权利要求：
AMENDED CLAIMS
received by the International Bureau on
02 November 2018 (02.1 1 .2018)
What is claimed is:
1. A novelty device integrating an infuser, a straw and an inhalator into one multi-functional device for brewing, drinking and inhalation of tea, herbs, coffee and other botanicals, said device comprising: a) a larger diameter elongated outer member having a central bore extending fully throughout with micro openings on the side wall that is made of one of the following materials: a glass material, a metal material, a plastic material, a silicone material, a ceramic material, a porcelain material, a wood material, a paper material, an organic material, an inorganic material, and a multi-layer material combining said materials; b) a smaller diameter elongated inner rod, nested in said central bore of said larger diameter elongated outer member, having a central bore extending fully throughout with micro openings on the side wall that is made of one of the following materials: a glass material, a metal material, a plastic material, a silicone material, a ceramic material, a porcelain material, a wood material, a paper material, an organic material, an inorganic material, and a multi-layer material combining said materials; c) an infusion chamber, formed between said larger diameter elongated outer member inner surface (bore side) and said smaller diameter elongated inner rod exterior surface, filled with tea, herbs, coffee and other botanicals; d) infusion chamber caps, having a central bore, closing said infusion chamber from top and bottom while enabling the flow of liquids and gases through said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod; e) said micro openings on the side wall of said larger diameter elongated outer member extend partially or fully throughout its length, facilitating the infusion of the exterior surface of said infusion chamber fill; and f) said micro openings on the side wall of said larger diameter elongated outer member are blocked by said infusion chamber fill, stopping the flow of liquid and air into said device and enabling the draw of liquids via said central bore of said smaller diameter
elongated inner rod by facilitating the creation of negative pressure (vacuum) inside said device.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the horizontal cross-sectional shape of said larger diameter outer member and said smaller diameter inner rod is one cross-sectional shape selected from one of the following: a tubular shaped cross section, a square shaped cross section, a triangular shaped cross section, a hexagonal shaped cross section, and multi-angle cross section.
3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of said larger diameter outer member and said smaller diameter inner rod is one longitudinal cross-sectional shape selected from one of the following: a rectangular shaped cross section, an edgy cross section, a curvy cross section, a vertically symmetrical cross section, a horizontally symmetrical cross section, a vertically asymmetrical cross section, and a horizontally asymmetrical cross section.
4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said larger diameter outer member and said smaller diameter inner rod are merged and shaped (e.g. molded, extruded and 3D printed) into one member, eliminating said infusion chamber cap(s).
5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said larger diameter elongated outer member is bended inwards at the end(s) closing said infusion chamber and eliminating said infusion chamber cap(s).
6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said smaller diameter elongated inner rod is bended outwards at the end(s) closing said infusion chamber and eliminating said infusion chamber cap(s).
7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said larger diameter outer member does not have micro openings on the side wall and is made of impermeable material, blocking liquids and gases to pass through it.
8. The invention of claim 4 wherein said one member does not have micro openings on the side wall and is made of impermeable material, blocking liquids and gases to pass through it.
9. The invention of claim 5 wherein said larger diameter outer member does not have micro openings on the side wall and is made of impermeable material, blocking liquids and gases to pass through it.
10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said smaller diameter elongated inner rod is a plunger for cleaning said infusion chamber.
11. The invention of claim 1 wherein O-rings are placed between stacked botanical substances in said infusion chamber to separate and identify them.
12. The invention of claim 1 wherein said infusion chamber fill (e.g. tea, coffee, and botanicals) acts simultaneously as a flavoring agent, a liquid and air flow stopper (barrier to prevent flow into said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod ), and a temperature insulator.
13. The invention of claim 1 wherein a gravity and pressure operated flow regulator is nested in said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod, regulating the flow of liquids and gases by opening and blocking said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod, and more specifically allowing the flow of liquids and gases to pass through when said flow regulator is in upright position and the pressure in said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated rod equals the atmospheric pressure, and alternatively blocking this flow
when said flow regulator is flipped or negative pressure builds in said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated rod.
14. The invention of claim 1 wherein an infusion regulator is attached to said larger diameter elongated outer member, regulating the speed of infusion by blocking and opening said sidewall micro openings of said larger diameter elongated outer member.
15. The invention of claim 1 wherein an infusion regulator is attached to said smaller diameter elongated inner rod, regulating the speed of infusion by blocking and opening said sidewall micro openings of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod.
16. The invention of claim 1 wherein a temperature measuring device is embedded in at least one said member, helping the user to optimize the brewing and infusion process as well as giving an indication on when the liquid is at desired temperature levels and comfortable to drink.
17. The invention of claim 1 wherein a funnel is attached to said device to facilitate pouring of botanicals in said infusion chamber, said funnel comprising: a) a funnel body, accommodating botanicals, that is with conical form and made of one of the following materials: a metal material, a plastic material, a silicone material, a ceramic material, a glass material, a porcelain material, a wood material, a paper material, an organic material, and a multi-layer material combining said materials; and b) an attachment end, attaching to said device so that it blocks said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod, having a rod bore blocker and openings, enabling botanicals from said funnel body to pass through and fill said infusion chamber without entering said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod.
18. A filling system for filling said infusion chamber of said device as described in claim 1 in the form of capsule, said capsule comprising: a) a capsule body, storing botanicals, that is made of one of the following materials: a metal material, a plastic material, a silicone material, a ceramic material, a glass material, a porcelain material, a wood material, a paper material, an organic material, and a multi-layer material combining said materials;
b) an attachment end, attaching to said device so that it blocks said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod, having a rod bore blocker and openings, enabling botanicals from said capsule body to pass through and fill said infusion chamber without entering said central bore of said smaller diameter elongated inner rod; and c) an attachment end stopper, closing said openings of said attachment end and sealing the content in said capsule;
d) said rod bore blocker not only blocks said central bore but also aligns said smaller diameter inner rod in the center of said bore of said larger diameter elongated member. e) said attachment end stopper can be one of the following: flat, impermeable, and sealed to said attachment end external wall; shaped around said attachment end with a flat part with openings rotating around the rod bore blocker so that it can close and open said attachment end openings; or a combination of both.
19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said attachment end and said capsule body are merged and shaped (e.g. molded, extruded and 3D printed) into one member, eliminating the need for connection.
20. A method for brewing, infusion and inhalation of botanicals, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a device having: a larger diameter elongated outer member with a central bore extending fully throughout and micro openings on the side walls; a smaller diameter elongated inner rod, nested in said central bore of said larger diameter outer member, with a central bore extending fully throughout and micro openings on the side walls; an infusion chamber, formed between said larger diameter member inner surface
(bore side) and said rod exterior surface; and infusion chamber caps with a central bore, closing the infusion chamber while enabling the flow of liquids and gases inside the central bore of the rod;
b) filling said device infusion chamber with botanical s;
c) stacking layers of different botanicals into said device infusion chamber, enabling multi-layer brewing;
d) immersing said device into a reservoir of liquid so that the suction end of said device is above said liquid level;
e) creating suction from said suction end of said device;
f) drawing continually until desired amount of said liquid from said reservoir passes through said device rod and infusion chamber and reaches user’s mouth;
g) pulling said device completely out of said liquid from said reservoir; and
h) inhaling from said device.
STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19(1)
The International Bureau
WIPO
34, chemin des Colombettes
1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Dear Sir/Madam,
We would like to provide additional information regarding the purpose and functionality of the side wall micro openings of the larger diameter elongated outer member, as it appears that the original drawings, description and claims were not understood in their entirety.
In connection to Claim 1, our invention does not include side wall micro openings to allow flows of liquid and gases into the device, but to promote external infusion of the fill (botanicals) placed in the infusion chamber. The botanical fill is compacted and when exposed to liquids it expands and completely blocks the micro openings. Hence, the fill acts as a barrier preventing air and liquid flows into the device. This in turn allows the user to draw liquid with the device by creating a negative pressure (vacuum) inside the central bore of the inner rod.
Accordingly, we define the regulator of micro openings as an "infusion regulator", not a "flow regulator". The latter is nested in the inner rod bore where the liquid and air flows occur.
The flow of air and liquids through the side wall micro openings, as suggested in view of Siller, may work for an inhaler but it will not work for a straw or drinking device, as negative pressure would be difficult to create when the liquid drops and exposes the micro openings. This may also explain why Guttag discounts the possibility of having both tubes made of hydrophilic material.
Therefore, we believe that the introduction of micro openings on both inner rod and outer member would have not been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, because it defies the logic and challenges the law of physics (namely the fluid dynamics of a straw). Furthermore, the evaluation of the botanical fill abilities to block the liquid and air flow requires testing and experimentation.
Hope this explanation also provides an answer to the statement "It is unclear how the invention would operate using an impermeable material without openings" (Claim 9, line 5 in the PCT WO). In fact, the lack or existence of side wall micro openings on the outer member of our invention does not affect the device drawing abilities and inhalation functionality but only the infusion rate. The absence of micro openings will decrease the infusion rate (e.g. this will be beneficial for green tea as it will reduce its astringency and bitterness), whereas their existence will increase this rate (e.g. good for botanicals that require longer infusion times).
Thank you for your time and hope that this statement together with the claim amendments clarify our invention.
Respectfully submitted
By Angel Tonchev
2916 La Mesa Dr
Henderson, NV 89014, USA
(+1 203 788 7423)
(angel_tonchev@hotmail.com)