权利要求：
69
CLAIMS A tableware piece comprising a shaped disc comprising a perimeter and two principal surfaces either side of said perimeter, being a first principal surface and a second principal surface, wherein the second principal surface comprises a continuous loop downstand, wherein said second surface comprises a lower ledge adjacent to a part of the outside surface of said continuous loop downstand and extending to an outside of said lower ledge, wherein the piece is configured and arranged to be capable of acting as a lid to a vessel with the first principal surface uppermost, the lower ledge located on the rim of the vessel and the continuous loop downstand located within the vessel, wherein said downstand comprises three outermost downstand surface points, one in each of three 120 degree sectors, wherein each of said three outermost downstand surface points is the same radius of downstand distance from a downstand centre, wherein said second principal surface comprises a well spaced inside said perimeter, said well being impervious to aqueous liquids, wherein said tableware piece is capable of inversion and being placed on a horizontal surface, wherein said well is capable of retaining a used infusion product, wherein the first principal surface of said piece comprises an upstand, an upstand outside surface and three outermost upstand surface points, wherein one of said three outermost upstand surface points, one in each of the three 120 degree sectors, wherein each of the three outermost upstand surface points is the same radius of upstand distance from an upstand centre, wherein an upper ledge is adjacent to each of said three outermost upstand surface points and extends to an outside of said upper ledge, wherein the tableware piece is capable of acting as a lid to the vessel with the second principal surface uppermost with an upper ledge located on said rim and said three outermost upstand surface points located within said vessel. A piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein said three outermost upstand surface points are located within a continuous upstand outside surface. A piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first principal surface comprises a plurality of discrete upstands.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
70 . A piece as claimed in any one of claims 1 to claim 3, wherein a piece axis is coincident with the downstand centre, and wherein the upstand centre is within 3, 2, 1 mm of the piece axis.
5. A piece as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein if a radial cross-section is taken through the piece axis, the profile of a lower ledge is one of flat and comprises a curve which does not vary by more than 90 degrees from the outside of the lower ledge to an outermost downstand surface point, and wherein the profile of an upper ledge is one of flat and comprises a curve which does not vary by more than 90 degrees from the outside of the upper ledge to an outermost upstand surface point.
6. A piece as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the radius of upstand distance and the radius of downstand distance are within 3, 2, 1mm of each other.
7. A piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first principal surface comprises a top recess comprising a top recess perimeter.
8. A piece as claimed in claim 7, wherein said top recess comprises a recessed area and a top recess perimeter wall between the top recess perimeter and the recessed area.
9. A piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the piece perimeter comprises a perimeter recess.
10. A piece as claimed in claim 9, wherein the downstand is coterminous with a portion of the perimeter recess.
11. A piece as claimed in claim 10, wherein the continuous upstand outside surface is coterminous with a portion of the perimeter recess.
12. A piece as claimed in claim 2, wherein in a radial cross-section a portion of the continuous upstand outside surface is concave.
13. A piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the depth of an upstand outside surface above an adjacent upper ledge is greater than 2, 4, 6mm.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
71
14. A piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein from the top of said upstand outside surface there is an inwardly sloping guiding downslope.
15. A piece as claimed in claim 2 and claim 7 and claim 14, wherein the guiding downslope surrounds and slopes downwards towards the top recess.
16. A piece as claimed in claim 15, wherein in a radial cross-section the guiding downslope extends from the top of the upstand outside surface to the top recess perimeter, wherein said guiding downslope comprises a radial dimension gd of 3-7, 7-12 or more than 12mm.
17. A piece as claimed in claims 2, claim 9 and claim 14, wherein the surface profile at the top and along a central length of the perimeter recess is concave.
18. A piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said piece comprises a perimeter handle.
19. A piece as claimed in claim 3, wherein said piece comprises three discrete upstands, and wherein each of said three discrete upstands comprises an upstand outside surface and an outermost upstand surface point.
20. A piece as claimed in claim 19, wherein each of said three discrete upstands comprises an upstand inside surface.
21. A piece as claimed in claim 20, wherein said three upstand inside surfaces are capable of providing lateral restraint to a second vessel located on the first principal surface.
22. A piece as claimed in any one of claim 19 to claim 21, wherein one of said three discrete upstands comprises an upstand handle.
23. A piece as claimed in claim 22, wherein the upstand handle projects more than 6,8,10mm above the adjacent upper ledge.
24. A piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the depth of said downstand from said lower ledge to the underside of said downstand is greater than 3.0mm, 4.0mm or 5.0mm.
25. A piece as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top recess perimeter wall comprises a depth greater than at least one of 2 mm and 3 mm and/or 4 mm.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
72 A piece as claimed in claim 8 or claim 25, wherein said perimeter wall comprises a straight extending between a perimeter wall top radius and a perimeter wall bottom radius, and wherein the angle to the axis of the piece of the perimeter wall straight is less than at least one of 45° and 30° and 20° and 10° and/or 5°. A piece as claimed in claim 8 or claim 25 or claim 26, wherein said perimeter wall comprises a slope angle to the axis of the piece of less than at least one of 45° and 30° and 15° and/or 5°. A piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said well comprises an inside surface of said continuous loop downstand. A piece as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said piece comprises a rigid material. A piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first principal surface comprises a plurality of discrete upper ledges and the second principal surface comprises a plurality of discrete lower ledges. A piece as claimed in claim 2 and claim 4 and claim 8 and claim 14 and claim 15, wherein the piece comprises a continuous loop upstand with a continuous and voidless guiding downslope surface from a continuous top of upstand outside surface locus that is coincident with part of a circle which is perpendicular to the piece axis to a top recess perimeter that is circular and perpendicular to the piece axis, wherein the recessed area is plain, voidless, circular and perpendicular to the piece perimeter, wherein the axial dimension between the continuous top of upstand outside surface locus and the top recess perimeter is optionally greater than 1, 2, 3, 4mm, and wherein the axial distance between the top recess perimeter and the recessed area is optionally greater than 2, 3, 4, 5mm. An assembly comprising a piece as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, and a vessel, wherein said assembly is capable of a plurality of different configurations pertaining to beverage-making, serving and clearing said assembly, wherein said vessel comprises a vessel axis and a rim with an inside
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
73 rim comprising three 120 degree sectors, and wherein said vessel is configured to support the piece acting as a lid to the vessel, wherein said vessel is capable of containing hot water with an infusing product in said hot water, wherein when the assembly is configured and arranged to be in a first configuration the piece acts as a lid to the vessel with the first principal surface uppermost, the lower ledge located on the rim of the vessel and the continuous loop downstand located within the vessel, wherein the tableware piece is locatable such that there is a gap between the outside surface of the continuous loop downstand and the inside of said vessel throughout the length of said continuous loop downstand, wherein said continuous loop downstand provides a limited movement lateral restraint against said vessel, wherein if the outside surface of said continuous loop downstand is pushed laterally against one point of the inside of said vessel within one of the three 120 degree sectors the continuous loop downstand is within 6mm, 4mm, 2mm of a point on the inside of the vessel within each of the other two 120 degree sectors, wherein said tableware piece is capable of inversion and being placed on a horizontal surface in a second configuration of said assembly, wherein said well is capable of retaining said infusion product following infusion and inversion of said piece, wherein the assembly can be configured and arranged in a third configuration, wherein the tableware piece acts as a lid to the vessel with the second principal surface uppermost with said upper ledge located on said rim and said three outermost upstand surface points located within said vessel, wherein the piece is locatable such that there is a gap between each of said three outermost upstand surface points and the inside of said vessel, wherein the upstand provides a limited movement lateral restraint against said vessel, wherein if one of said three outermost upstand surface points is pushed laterally against the inside of said vessel within one of said three 120 degree sectors each of the other two of said three outermost upstand surface points is located within 6mm, 4mm, 2mm of a point on the inside of the vessel within one of the other two 120 degree sectors, and wherein in the first and third configurations the assembly can be held and carried in one hand by holding the vessel.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
74
33. An assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis the vessel is one of circular and polygonal.
34. An assembly as claimed in claim 32 or claim 33, wherein said assembly comprises a spoon, and wherein in said first and third configurations the spoon is located partly within vessel 60, and the spoon shaft is also located within the ventilation aperture between the piece perimeter recess and the rim 62 of the vessel.
35. A piece as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein said piece comprises a top recess, wherein said assembly comprises a second vessel smaller than said vessel, and wherein in said first configuration said second vessel is locatable within said top recess and in said third configuration said second vessel is locatable within one of said vessel and said well by being located on one of said well and an infuser located within said well.
36. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 35, wherein said piece is located as a lid to said vessel and can be removed vertically from said vessel by a force no greater than the weight of the piece whether said first surface is uppermost in said first configuration or whether said second surface is uppermost in said third configuration.
37. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 36, wherein said infusion product is contained within a bag.
38. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 36, wherein said infusion product is contained within an infuser.
39. An assembly as claimed in any one of claim 32 to 38, wherein said infusion product is tea.
40. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 and any one of claim 32 to claim 39, wherein in said second configuration said perimeter recess is locatable to be one of close to and touching and contiguous with the outside of said vessel.
41. An assembly as claimed in claim 38, wherein in said first configuration said infuser is supported on said rim of said vessel.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
42. An assembly as claimed in claim 41, wherein said infuser comprises an infuser bowl, an infuser handle and an infuser hook connecting said infuser bowl to said infuser handle, and wherein in said first configuration said infuser hook is located over said rim of said vessel.
43. An assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein said lower ledge comprises a lower ledge infuser recess in which said infuser hook is locatable in said first configuration.
44. An assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein said downstand comprises a downstand infuser recess in which said infuser hook is locatable in said first configuration.
45. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 44, wherein in said third configuration said infusion product is located within said well.
46. An assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein the vessel, the piece and the second vessel are substantially circular on plan and are assembled substantially co-axially, the vessel axis typically being substantially vertical when the vessel is hand-held or is supported on a tray or table or other substantially horizontal surface.
47. An assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the top recess perimeter is circular on plan and is substantially co-axial with the vessel, the piece and the second vessel, which are each within 1, 2, 3, 4mm of the piece axis.
48. An assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein the top recess comprises a lateral restraint to said second vessel within said top recess in said first configuration.
49. An assembly as claimed in claim 48, wherein the axis of the assembly can be rotated to an angle from vertical of over at least one of 10° and 20° and 30° and/or 40° without the second vessel sliding off the piece or overturning.
50. An assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein the height of the second vessel centre of gravity above the second vessel base plane divided by the width of the second vessel base support is less than at least one of 0.5 and 0.4 and/or 0.3.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
51. An assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein the shape of the top recess in the piece and the shape of the base of the second vessel combine to provide a lateral restraint to movement of the second vessel relative to the piece.
52. An assembly as claimed in claim 48, wherein said lateral restraint comprises limited movement lateral restraint, optionally following lateral movement of less than at least one of 6mm and 3mm and/or 1mm.
53. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the piece perimeter comprises a perimeter recess, wherein the piece is capable of being placed to act as a lid on the vessel containing hot water with the first surface uppermost such that the perimeter recess provides a ventilation aperture between the perimeter recess and the inside of the rim of the vessel.
54. An assembly as claimed in claim 53, wherein the assembly comprises a spoon comprising a bowl and a handle, wherein said handle is capable of being located within said ventilation aperture with said bowl located within the vessel.
55. An assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein a third vessel is located on the second vessel.
56. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 55, wherein said piece comprises a perimeter handle which in the first and third configurations extends outside said rim of said vessel.
57. A method of making, serving and clearing a beverage using an assembly of any one of claims 32 to 56, said method comprising the steps of: i. inserting a first liquid into the vessel comprising a rim, ii. placing the piece onto the rim of the vessel such that the first principal surface is uppermost and the downstand is inside the vessel providing limited movement lateral restraint to the piece, iii. optionally re-locating the assembly of steps (i) and (ii) to a surface, iv. removing the piece from the vessel, inverting the piece and locating the piece on said surface or other surface, and v. relocating the piece onto the rim of the vessel without re-inverting the piece such that the second principal surface is uppermost and the upstand
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
77 is inside the vessel providing limited movement lateral restraint to the piece. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 57, wherein in step (i) said first liquid is hot water, wherein after step (i) locating a tea bag into the hot water. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 58, wherein after step (iii) allowing time for the tea to infuse. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 59, wherein after step (iv), removing a used tea bag from the hot water, and locating the used tea bag into the well of the inverted piece. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 60, wherein the piece comprises a top recess, and wherein a second vessel containing a tasting product is located within the top recess before step (iv). A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 60, wherein the tea bag is part of an assembly comprising the tea bag, a suspension handle and a connector which connects the tea bag to the suspension handle. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 60, wherein the piece comprises a perimeter recess. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 63, wherein in step (ii) a ventilation aperture is formed between the perimeter recess and the inside of the vessel rim. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 64, wherein a tagged tea bag connector passes through the ventilation aperture, and wherein the suspension handle is located outside the space contained by the vessel and piece acting as a lid to the vessel. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 65, wherein before step (iv), agitating the infusing tea, typically by repeatedly lifting the tea bag up and allowing it to drop by means of the suspension handle and connector.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
78
67. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 63, wherein in step (iv) the piece is located with the perimeter recess touching the vessel to enable the used tea bag to be transferred onto the piece without dripping onto the surface.
68. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 59, wherein following the desired degree of infusion of the tea, the suspension handle and string are used to retrieve the tea bag from the hot liquid and, following inversion of the piece and locating it onto a surface, placing the wet tea bag into the well.
69. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 68, wherein following step (v) the upstand provides a limited movement lateral restraint against the inside of the vessel.
70. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 64, wherein a teaspoon is inserted into the liquid in the vessel, the ventilation aperture retaining the shaft of the teaspoon.
71. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 61 and claim 70, wherein after step (iv) the teaspoon is used to stir and amalgamate the tasting product and the liquid in the vessel.
72. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 71, wherein the tasting product is one of milk and cream and an alcoholic liquid and honey and lemon and sugar and sweetener.
73. A method of making a beverage as claimed in claim 70, wherein the teaspoon is used to transfer the tea bag from the vessel onto the inverted piece.
74. A method of making a beverage according to claim 57 and claim 58, wherein the tea bag is the bowl of an infuser, wherein the infuser comprises an infuser handle.
75. A method of making a beverage according to claim 57, claim 58 and claim 74, wherein the vessel comprises a vessel handle, and wherein following step (ii) and before step (iii) the infuser handle and the vessel handle are aligned.
76. A method of making a beverage according to claim 57, wherein following step (ii) a second tasting product is located to be retained by the piece.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
79 A method of making a beverage according to claim 76, wherein the second tasting product is located on the piece. A method of making a beverage according to claim 76, wherein the second tasting product is in a sachet which is trapped between the lower ledge and the vessel rim. A method of making a beverage according to claim 76 and claim 70, wherein the second tasting product is in a sachet which is trapped between the perimeter recess and the teaspoon. A method of making a beverage according to claim 76, wherein a sugar cube is retained by the inward sloping guiding downslope. A method of making a beverage according to claim 75, wherein a sachet containing a second tasting product is trapped between the infuser handle and the vessel handle. A method of making a beverage according to claim 61, wherein before step (v) locating the second vessel within the vessel. A method of making a beverage according to claim 61 and claim 74, wherein following step (v) the piece and infuser are located on the piece and the second vessel is located partially within the infuser. A method of making a beverage according to claim 57, wherein said re-locating in step (iii) is by carrying the assembly by holding the vessel in one hand. A method of making a beverage according to claim 57, following step (v), the assembly comprising the inverted piece located on the vessel is re-located by carrying the assembly by holding the vessel in one hand. A method as claimed in claim 57, wherein a tea bag is located inside an open bowl of an infuser, which is located within the vessel before step (ii).
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)