A Dribble-free Teapot Design?

A new design of spout has hit the market, close behind the scientific information about the causes of tea dribbling back down the spout of a pot. It features a simple groove design on the underside, and is the creation of Damini Kumar, 23, whilst studying her Masters Degree at South Bank University.

Damini was inspired by looking at how windowsills prevent rainwater surging back along the underside of the wood and possibly into the structure of the house, causing damage,

“With windowsills, the problem was solved by cutting a rectangular groove underneath. This groove is too steep for the water to flow over and the water falls directly from the groove downwards. This is what led me to put a grove on the underside of the teapot spout.”

Along with the groove on the spout, the teapot Kumar has designed has a few extra features to improve the pouring experience. A longer spout prevents liquid surges and makes the pour smoother and more predictable. A raised lip at the end of the spout acts to prevent any drips after pouring. Special indentations in the handle make for an easy left or right-handed grip, and to top it all off there is a chamber inside the pot for holding your tea bag, preventing it blocking the spout during pouring. The teapot lid also stays firmly in place, meaning it doesn’t end up in your cup along with your tea!

Despite the fact that Kumar’s design will have implications in the design industry as well as specifically to teapots, she’s filed a patent and has made the teapot with mass production in mind.