Tension and Pivot

A stainless steel mesh tea infuser rested across a porcelain saucer. Two scissor handles... joined by a tight coil spring. I approached. Step one. I braced my foot blocks against the saucer's rim and tapped the upper lever with my beak. Firm resistance. Step two. I leaned forward, pressing down with my full balance. The spring yielded with a subtle metallic scrape. Across the rim, the twin perforated hemispheres parted smoothly, opening a hollow sphere. I hopped back. Snap. The halves locked shut, perfectly flush again. Sturdy tension. An exceptionally clean pivot mechanism.