Beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device

Abstract

A beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device for preparing beverages by infusion includes a spoon and a shell. The spoon comprises a bowl that is attached to a first end of a handle. The shell comprises a first piece, which is attached to the handle proximate to the bowl, and a second piece, which is selectively attachable to the first piece. A substrate for preparing a beverage, such as, but not limited to, tea bags, shredded tea leaves, coffee grounds, and the like can be inserted into and retained by the shell. A plurality of openings is positioned in the shell. The handle can be grasped in a hand of a user, positioning the user to submerge the shell in water and to stir the water. The openings allow for passage of the water through the shell to infuse the water to generate the beverage.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device comprising:
 a spoon comprising a bowl attached to a first end of a handle;   a shell comprising a first piece and a second piece, the first piece being attached to the handle proximate to the bowl, the second piece being selectively attachable to the first piece, wherein the shell is configured for insertion and retention of a substrate for preparing a beverage; and   a plurality of openings positioned in the shell, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in a hand of a user, positioning the user for submerging the shell in water and for stirring the water, wherein the openings are configured for passage of the water through the shell for infusing the water and generating the beverage.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device of  claim 1 , wherein the spoon and the shell comprise plastic, metal, wood, ceramic, or bamboo. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device of  claim 1 , wherein the first piece and the second piece are cylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first piece is circumferentially larger than the second piece and internally threaded adjacent to a perimeter of the first piece; and   the second piece is externally threaded adjacent to a circumference of the second piece, such that the second piece is threadedly attachable to the first piece.   
     
     
         5 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are sized for retention of the substrate in a filter bag, wherein the shell is configured for insertion and retention of a tea bag. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are sized for retention of the substrate in shredded leaf form, wherein the shell is configured for insertion and retention of shredded tea leaves. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are sized for retention of the substrate in ground form, wherein the shell is configured for insertion and retention of ground coffee. 
     
     
         8 . A beverage infusion, straining, and stirring device comprising:
 a spoon comprising a bowl attached to a first end of a handle, the spoon comprising plastic, metal, wood, ceramic, or bamboo;   a shell comprising a first piece and a second piece, the first piece being attached to the handle proximate to the bowl, the second piece being selectively attachable to the first piece, wherein the shell is configured for insertion and retention of a substrate for preparing a beverage, the shell comprising plastic, metal, wood, ceramic, or bamboo, the first piece and the second piece being cylindrical, the first piece being circumferentially larger than the second piece and internally threaded adjacent to a perimeter of the first piece, the second piece being externally threaded adjacent to a circumference of the second piece, such that the second piece is threadedly attachable to the first piece; and   a plurality of openings positioned in the shell, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in a hand of a user, positioning the user for submerging the shell in water and for stirring the water, wherein the openings are configured for passage of the water through the shell for infusing the water and generating the beverage, the openings being sized for retention of the substrate in a filter bag, the substrate in shredded leaf form, or the substrate in ground form, wherein the shell is configured for insertion and retention of a tea bag, shredded tea leaves, and ground coffee, respectively.   
     
     
         9 . A beverage infusion, straining, and stirring system comprising:
 a substrate for preparing a beverage;   a spoon comprising a bowl attached to a first end of a handle;   a shell comprising a first piece and a second piece, the first piece being attached to the handle proximate to the bowl, the second piece being selectively attachable to the first piece, such that the substrate is selectively positionable in the shell; and   a plurality of openings positioned in the shell, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in a hand of a user, positioning the user for submerging the shell in water and for stirring the water, wherein the openings are configured for passage of the water through the shell for infusing the water and generating the beverage, with the substrate being retained in the shell.   
     
     
         10 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring system of  claim 9 , wherein the spoon and the shell comprises plastic, metal, wood, ceramic, or bamboo. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring system of  claim 9 , wherein the first piece and the second piece are cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first piece is circumferentially larger than the second piece and internally threaded adjacent to a perimeter of the first piece; and   the second piece being externally threaded adjacent to a circumference of the second piece, such that the second piece is threadedly attachable to the first piece.   
     
     
         13 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring system of  claim 9 , wherein the second piece is fused to the first piece. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the substrate comprises a tea bag; and   the openings are sized for retention of the tea bag.   
     
     
         15 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the substrate comprises shredded tea leaves; and   the openings are sized for retention of the shredded tea leaves.   
     
     
         16 . The beverage infusion, straining, and stirring system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the substrate comprises ground coffee; and   the openings are sized for retention of the ground coffee.