U.S. patent application number 14/405526 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-14 for capsule for making beverages.
This patent application is currently assigned to CAFFITALY SYSTEM S.p.A. The applicant listed for this patent is CAFFITALY SYSTEM S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Giovanni Accursi.
Application Number | 20150132441 14/405526 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46727493 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150132441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Accursi; Giovanni |
May 14, 2015 |
Capsule For Making Beverages
Abstract
A capsule (1) containing a powdered food substance which can be
extracted by passing water through it to make a beverage comprises
a body (2) comprising a lower wall (3) and a lateral wall (4), and
a lid (6) fixed to the body (2). The lid (6) and a central portion
(8) of the lower wall (3) are pierceable respectively to allow the
injection of water into and the extraction of a beverage from the
capsule (1). Between the lid (6) and the lower wall (3), and in a
position close to the latter, there is a filter (9), permeable to
the beverage, which retains the powdered food substance, the filter
being at least mainly made of a layered sheet of flexible material
fixed to the body (2), and separating the powdered food substance
at least from the central portion (8). The sheet of flexible
material is shaped to form, substantially at the central portion
(8), at least one projection (10) towards the lid (6). At the
projection (10) the filter (9) is distanced from the central
portion (8) and there is a compartment (12), located between the
filter (9) and the central portion (8), where a piercing element
can be inserted following penetration through the central portion
(8), without damaging the filter (9).
Inventors: |
Accursi; Giovanni; (Porretta
Terme, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CAFFITALY SYSTEM S.p.A. |
Gaggio Montano-Bologna |
|
IT |
|
|
Assignee: |
CAFFITALY SYSTEM S.p.A
Gaggio Montano-Bologna
IT
|
Family ID: |
46727493 |
Appl. No.: |
14/405526 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
June 6, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2013/054659 |
371 Date: |
December 4, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/8046 20130101;
B65D 85/8043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/77 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/804 20060101
B65D085/804 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 8, 2012 |
IT |
VR2012A000121 |
Claims
1. A capsule (1) containing at least one powdered food substance
which can be extracted by passing water through it to make a
beverage, comprising: a substantially cup-shaped body (2)
comprising a lower wall (3) and a lateral wall (4); a lid (6) fixed
to the body (2) of the capsule (1) at an edge (5) of the lateral
wall (4) located on the opposite side to the lower wall (3);
between said lid (6) and the inner surface of the capsule (1) body
(2) there being a chamber (7) for containing the powdered food
substance; the lid (6) being in use pierceable to allow the
injection of water into the chamber (7), and the lower wall (3)
being in use pierceable at a central portion (8) of it to allow
extraction of a beverage from the capsule (1); a filter (9)
positioned inside the chamber (7) close to the lower wall (3) the
filter (9) being at least mainly made of a layered sheet of
flexible material directly fixed to the body (2), said filter (9)
separating the powdered food substance at least from the central
portion (8) of the lower wall (3), being permeable to the beverage
and substantially preventing the passage of the powdered food
substance, said sheet of flexible material also being shaped to
form, substantially at the central portion (8) of the lower wall
(3), at least one projection (10) towards the lid (6) where the
filter (9) is distanced from the central portion (8) of the lower
wall (3), and where there is a compartment (12), between the filter
(9) and the central portion (8), where, during use, a piercing
element can be inserted following penetration through the central
portion (8) of the lower wall (3), without damaging the filter
(9).
2. The capsule according to claim 1, characterised in that the
sheet of flexible material is fixed at an annular portion (11) of
the body (2) of the capsule (1), which surrounds the central
portion (8).
3. The capsule according to claim 1, characterised in that the
sheet of flexible material extends substantially on the entire
surface of the lower wall (3) and rests on the latter except at the
central portion (8) where there is the projection (10).
4. The capsule according to claim 1, characterised in that
positioned between the portion of the sheet of flexible material
forming the projection (10) and the lower wall (3) of the capsule
(1) there is a supporting element (13) at least partly
substantially shaped to match the projection (10), said supporting
element (13) being able to support the filter (9) at the projection
(10), said compartment (12) being located between the supporting
element (13) and the lower wall (3).
5. The capsule according to claim 4, characterised in that the
supporting element (13) is fixed to the sheet of flexible
material.
6. The capsule according to claim 4, characterised in that the
supporting element (13) is constrained to the lower wall (3).
7. The capsule according to claim 4, characterised in that the
supporting element (13) is constrained in movements relative to the
lower wall (3) so that it remains at the central portion (8), said
supporting element (13) being constrained by contact with the
portion of sheet of flexible material corresponding to the
projection (10).
8. The capsule according to claim 4, characterised in that the
supporting element (13) substantially allows the shape of the
projection (10) to be preserved following stresses on the
projection (10) towards the lower wall (3).
9. The capsule according to claim 4, characterised in that the
supporting element (13) allows fluid communication between the
compartment (12) and the rest of the chamber (7) through the filter
(9).
10. The capsule according to claim 4, characterised in that the
supporting element (13) is a hollow single-piece structure
comprising at the base a resting portion (14) which rests at the
lower wall (3) perimetrically surrounding the central portion
(8).
11. The capsule according to claim 9, characterised in that the
supporting element (13) comprises openings (15) and in that the
fluid communication occurs through said openings (15).
12. The capsule according to claim 1, characterised in that the
projection (10) has a substantially conical shape or is
substantially dome-shaped.
13. The capsule according to claim 1, characterised in that said
flexible material is paper, or fabric, or non-woven fabric, or a
plastic film.
14. The capsule according to claim 2, characterised in that
positioned between the portion of the sheet of flexible material
forming the projection (10) and the lower wall (3) of the capsule
(1) there is a supporting element (13) at least partly
substantially shaped to match the projection (10), said supporting
element (13) being able to support the filter (9) at the projection
(10), said compartment (12) being located between the supporting
element (13) and the lower wall (3).
15. The capsule according to claim 3, characterised in that
positioned between the portion of the sheet of flexible material
forming the projection (10) and the lower wall (3) of the capsule
(1) there is a supporting element (13) at least partly
substantially shaped to match the projection (10), said supporting
element (13) being able to support the filter (9) at the projection
(10), said compartment (12) being located between the supporting
element (13) and the lower wall (3).
16. The capsule according to claim 2, characterised in that said
flexible material is paper, or fabric, or non-woven fabric, or a
plastic film.
17. The capsule according to claim 3, characterised in that said
flexible material is paper, or fabric, or non-woven fabric, or a
plastic film.
18. The capsule according to claim 4, characterised in that said
flexible material is paper, or fabric, or non-woven fabric, or a
plastic film.
19. The capsule according to claim 14, characterised in that said
flexible material is paper, or fabric, or non-woven fabric, or a
plastic film.
20. The capsule according to claim 15, characterised in that said
flexible material is paper, or fabric, or non-woven fabric, or a
plastic film.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a capsule for making beverages. In
particular reference is made to those capsules comprising a body
and a lid which closes the top of the body. Inside the capsule
there is a powdered food substance (for example coffee powder),
which can be extracted by passing water (which may be pressurised)
through it to make a beverage, for example coffee. More
specifically reference is made to those capsules in which the body
comprises a lower wall and a lateral wall, and which inside them
have a filter interposed between the lower wall and the lid for
separating the powdered food substance at least from a relevant
portion of the lower wall.
[0002] In more detail, reference is made to those capsules suitable
for use in beverage making systems in which the capsule is pierced
at the lid, to allow the injection of water (which may be
pressurised) into the capsule itself, and at a central portion of
the lower wall (the relevant portion), to allow dispensing to the
outside of the capsule of the beverage produced by the interaction
of the water with the powdered food substance. In such capsules the
filter is positioned close to the lower wall so that the capsule
can contain a larger quantity of powdered food substance between
the lid and the filter.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] An example of such a type of capsule is given in patent US
2006/0236871 which describes a capsule comprising a filter composed
of a rigid skeleton having a conical central projection in which a
piercing spike is inserted after piercing the lower wall. In said
rigid skeleton openings are made, covered by a fabric permeable to
the beverage, through which the beverage can pass in order to then
flow out of the capsule through the lower wall (through the gap
made after piercing of the lower wall).
[0004] However, rigid or semi-rigid filters have high production
costs linked first to the mould needed to make them. The production
of rigid or semi-rigid filters having complex structures, for
example in which openings, holes or passages are made, or
projections, further increases the production costs. Moreover,
added to those costs are the costs directly linked to the intrinsic
cost of the material used to make the filter.
[0005] Therefore, herein reference is made to those capsules in
which the filter is instead substantially made of a flexible
material such as paper, fabric, non-woven fabric, etc. For example,
on the market there are capsules which on the inside have a flat
fabric filter, fixed to the lower wall, which is permeable to the
beverage and at the same time can retain the powdered food
substance. Such capsules are suitable for use with beverage making
systems in which the element for piercing the lower wall penetrates
inside the capsule, remaining there for the duration of beverage
dispensing which, advantageously, takes place through channels made
in the piercing element itself.
[0006] Another example is given in patent US 2012/0070551 which
describes a capsule in which, lying at the lower wall, there is a
filter made of a layer of non-woven fabric which separates the
powdered food substance from the lower wall of the capsule. In
particular, in one embodiment, said layer is oversized and after
capsule penetration by a piercing element, through the lower wall,
said layer is lifted relative to the lower wall by the piercing
element, although the filter remains intact. Therefore, the
beverage can pass through the filter and flow out of the capsule,
for example through a duct made in the piercing element.
[0007] However, in some cases the filter may be damaged, for
example cut by the piercing element, although the outflow of powder
is substantially prevented by the interference between the piercing
element and the edges of the filter surrounding the cut made by
it.
[0008] However, this prior art technology has several
disadvantages.
[0009] In fact, capsules such as those described above are not
compatible with all beverage making systems and in particular they
are not compatible with some capsule lower wall piercing methods.
In fact, in systems in which the piercing element is particularly
sharp, or in systems in which the thrust applied by the piercing
element on the lower wall is particularly great, the piercing
element can easily cause a tear in the filter.
[0010] For example, in beverage making systems of the type
described in EP 2000063 which use a cutting element that first
penetrates the lower wall of the capsule, causing a clean and
linear cut, and immediately afterwards is uncoupled from it,
leaving a gap, the filter positioned on the lower wall, in
accordance with the known capsules, is easily pierced or torn. In
such a situation, during the subsequent dispensing, together with
the beverage part of the powdered food substance also comes out,
making the beverage dispensed undrinkable and increasing the risk
of blockage of the system dispensing pipes and of malfunctions in
the devices connected to them.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis
of this invention is to provide a capsule for making beverages
which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.
[0012] In particular, the technical purpose of this invention is to
provide a capsule for making beverages which is equipped with a low
cost filter and which is suitable for use according to the various
methods for piercing or cutting the lower wall.
[0013] It is also the technical purpose of this invention to
provide a capsule for making beverages which allows the filtering
function of the filter to be kept intact, allowing a good quality
beverage to be made
[0014] The technical purpose specified and the aims indicated are
substantially achieved by a capsule for making beverages as
described in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Further features and advantages of this invention are more
apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to
several preferred, non-limiting embodiments of a capsule for making
beverages, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a first embodiment of a
capsule in accordance with this invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a vertical section of a first alternative
embodiment of the capsule of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a vertical section of a second alternative
embodiment of the capsule of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a vertical section of a second embodiment of a
capsule in accordance with this invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a vertical section of a first alternative
embodiment of the capsule of FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a vertical section of a second alternative
embodiment of the capsule of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0022] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1
denotes in its entirety a capsule for making beverages in
accordance with this invention.
[0023] The capsule 1 in accordance with this invention contains at
least one powdered food substance which can be extracted by passing
water through it to make a beverage. The powdered food substance,
for example powdered coffee, can be extracted for example by
infusion or is soluble to make a beverage such as coffee or tea,
infusions, soups, etc. The capsule 1 may if necessary be suitable
for allowing extraction of the powdered food substance, for example
coffee, by passing pressurised water through it, for example for
making an espresso coffee.
[0024] The capsule 1 comprises a substantially cup-shaped body 2
comprising a lower wall 3 and a lateral wall 4. In the embodiments
illustrated the lower wall 3 of the capsule 1 substantially extends
in a circular fashion and the side wall 4 extends from it with a
shape that to a first approximation is frusto-conical, the upper
part of it ending with an edge 5 located on the opposite side to
the lower wall 3. A lid 6 is fixed to the capsule 1 body 2 at the
edge 5 and closes the top of the capsule 1 body 2. Between the lid
6 and the inner surface of the capsule 1 body 2 there is a chamber
7 for containing the powdered food substance.
[0025] The capsule 1 is therefore suitable for insertion in a
beverage making system which advantageously comprises a housing in
which the capsule 1 can be positioned for use for making a
beverage. In particular the system, in the substantially known way,
comprises injection means for injecting water into the capsule 1
and extraction means for extracting the beverage form the capsule
1.
[0026] For this invention the capsule 1 lid 6 is pierceable to
allow the injection of water into the chamber 7, and the lower wall
3 is pierceable, at a central portion 8 of it, to allow extraction
of a beverage from the capsule 1. Consequently, the beverage making
system suitable for using a capsule 1 in accordance with this
invention will have the injection means associable with the capsule
1 lid 6 and the extraction means associable with the capsule 1
lower wall 3 and in particular with a central portion 8 of the
lower wall 3. The lower wall 3 of the capsule 1 according to this
invention is therefore suitable for penetration by a piercing
element, which refers to any element, substantially of the known
type, able to pierce, cut or tear, for example a spike or a blade,
fixed or mobile.
[0027] The capsule 1 also comprises a filter 9 at least mainly made
of a layered sheet of flexible material positioned inside the
chamber 7 close to the lower wall 3. The filter 9 separates the
powdered food substance at least from the central portion 8 of the
lower wall 3, and is permeable to the beverage, at the same time
preventing the passage of powdered food substance. The filter 9 may
therefore separate the powdered food substance from even a limited
portion of the lower wall 3, substantially corresponding to the
portion of lower wall 3 delimited by the substantially annular
portion with which the filter 9 is associated. In the embodiment
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the filter 9 separates
the powdered food substance substantially from the entire surface
of the lower wall 3, the filter advantageously being associated
with a substantially annular and marginal portion of the lower
wall, close to the lateral wall 4, or at the lateral wall 4 itself.
However, if necessary the filter 9 may separate the powdered food
substance even from a portion of lateral wall 4 adjacent to the
lower wall 3 if it is fixed to the body 2 at the lateral wall
4.
[0028] In this context, the term flexible material refers to a
material which is neither rigid nor semi-rigid, for example a
plastic material, although it refers to a material which can be
folded, rolled up on itself, folded over itself, and if necessary
is soft and can have various degrees of deformability and has a
texture such as paper, fabrics with various weaves and even
polymers, a non-woven fabric, a thermoformable fabric, a plastic
film, etc. However, such examples shall be understood to be
provided by way of example only, without limiting a flexible
material in accordance with this invention.
[0029] Therefore, the filter 9 may substantially be made of a layer
of flexible material, such as those indicated above, in various
shapes, for example mainly disk-shaped. In any case, this invention
also covers filters made of two or more superposed layers (all
flexible as indicated above), if necessary of different types, with
different shapes or worked to take on various surface features
and/or shapes.
[0030] The filter 9 is permeable to the beverage thanks to the
material used to make it, for example a fabric permeable to the
beverage and having a weave such that it retains the powdered food
substance, and/or due to its shape, for example a disk, having
through holes which allow the beverage to pass through it and at
the same time retain the powder.
[0031] According to this invention the sheet of flexible material
used to make the filter 9 is shaped to form at least one projection
10 towards the lid 6 substantially at the central portion 8 of the
lower wall 3. At the projection 10, in particular, the filter 9 is
distanced from the central portion 8 of the lower wall 3. In the
embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the
projection 10 is shaped like a protuberance, located at the centre
of the filter 9 and at the central portion 8 of the lower wall 3,
projecting relative to the substantially flat profile of the rest
of the filter 9.
[0032] Moreover, advantageously, the projection 10 is capable of
supporting itself, for example due to its shape, and/or the folding
of the starting sheet of material used to make it, and/or its
sturdiness and/or thanks to a local polymerisation process,
etc.
[0033] The projection 10 may be made using various methods.
However, in general, the process for making the projection may
comprise a step of stretching, cold or hot deformation, local
polymerisation (where permitted), etc. The projection 10 may also
be made by making a crease in a flat starting piece of material or
even by folding it. However, advantageously the process for making
the projection 10 tends to strengthen it in such a way that it is
able to support itself.
[0034] As already indicated, in the preferred embodiments the
filter 9 substantially covers the entire surface of the lower wall
3. However, the filter 9 may be in contact with the lower wall 3
only at several points, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 6, or it may
rest on the lower wall 3 substantially adapting to it, except for
on the central portion 8 (FIGS. 2 and 5). Therefore,
advantageously, the filter 9 extends substantially on the entire
surface of the lower wall 3 and rests on the latter except on the
central portion 8 where there is the projection 10.
[0035] However, rather than substantially covering the entire
surface of the lower wall 3, as in the embodiments illustrated, the
filter 9 may in various ways be limited to covering more limited
portions. For example it may cover just more than the central
portion 8 only of the lower wall 3 which, during capsule 1 use,
will be penetrated by a piercing, cutting or tearing element
(embodiment not illustrated). In this case, advantageously, the
filter 9 is substantially reduced only to the portion forming the
projection 10.
[0036] In any case, the sheet of flexible material used to make the
filter 9 is directly fixed to the capsule 1 body 2 at an annular
portion 11 of the capsule 1 body 2, the annular portion 11
surrounding the central portion 8. Advantageously, the filter 9 is
fixed to the body 2 by gluing or sealing.
[0037] The annular portion 11 may be located in different zones of
the capsule 1 body 2, for example it may be located on the lower
wall 3 around the central portion 8 and if necessary radially
distanced from it, or it may be on the lateral wall 4,
advantageously in a region adjacent to the lower wall 3.
[0038] Advantageously, in the preferred embodiment the sheet of
flexible material is fixed to the lower wall 3 at an annular
portion 11 surrounding the central portion 8. For example in the
accompanying drawings the sheet of flexible material is fixed to
the lower wall 3 at a peripheral annular portion 11 of it proximal
to the lateral portion 4. Advantageously, in the accompanying
drawings the sheet of flexible material is connected to the lower
wall 3, and more precisely to the annular portion 11, at a portion
of it which is also substantially annular and substantially
corresponds to the perimeter of the sheet of flexible material.
However, in other embodiments (not illustrated) the sheet of
flexible material could be connected to the annular portion 11 at a
portion of it which is substantially annular and radially further
in than its own perimeter and in any case surrounding the portion
of filter 9 corresponding to the projection 10.
[0039] As already indicated, the projection 10 may be obtained with
various techniques, by shaping the starting sheet of material to
form a hump which may be in a variety of shapes. In fact, the
projection 10 may for example have a substantially conical shape
(FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) or it may be substantially dome-shaped (FIGS.
3 and 6).
[0040] As indicated, the filter 9 is distanced from the lower wall
3 at the projection 10. At the projection 10 there is a compartment
12, between the filter 9 and the central portion 8, where, in use,
a piercing element can be inserted following penetration through
the central portion 8 of the lower wall 3, without damaging the
filter 9.
[0041] Therefore, the compartment 12 is formed between the portion
of the sheet of flexible material forming the projection 10 and the
central portion 8 of the lower wall 3. In fact, the projection 10
forms an empty space substantially corresponding to the volume of
the compartment 12 which is of a size suitable for housing a
piercing element which penetrates inside it, at the central portion
8 of the lower wall 3, without said piercing element being able to
damage the filter 9, advantageously not making contact with the
filter.
[0042] In the first embodiment described so far, the projection 10
can support itself and forms the compartment 12, delimiting it
(with the central portion 8) and giving it shape and volume.
[0043] In a second embodiment of this invention, illustrated in
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, between the portion of the sheet of flexible
material forming the projection 10 and the lower wall 3 of the
capsule 1 there is a supporting element 13 which supports the
filter 9 at the projection 10 after pressures on it acting towards
the lower wall 3. More precisely, the supporting element 13 is
positioned on the lower wall 3 at the central portion 8. The
supporting element 13 is advantageously made of rigid or semi-rigid
material and allows the portion of the sheet of flexible material
to be supported at the projection 10. Moreover, on its part in
contact with the projection 10, the supporting element 13
preferably does not comprise edges or elements which could damage
the filter 9 at the projection 10, for example after the simple
pressure applied by the powdered food substance on the filter 9 or
after the normal operating pressures generated inside the capsule 1
during its use.
[0044] The supporting element 13 is such that it does not interfere
with the entry of a piercing element. The compartment 12 is
advantageously located between the supporting element 13 and the
lower wall 3 (in particular the central portion 8). In fact, in the
preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the
supporting element 13, as described in more detail below,
substantially completely forms the compartment 12, substantially
delimiting its volume between itself and the central portion 8 of
the lower wall 3. In other alternative embodiments (not
illustrated) the supporting element 13 forms the compartment 12
together with the projection 10, that is to say, it is for example
substantially configured as a rigid skeleton or a frame which does
not substantially interfere with the volume of the compartment 12
which instead remains mainly delimited by the projection 10.
[0045] The supporting element 13 may be made with various shapes
and structures. It is at least mainly substantially shaped to match
the projection 10. Advantageously, as already indicated, the
supporting element 13 allows the shape of the projection 10 to be
maintained, keeping it substantially unchanged even after pressures
applied on the filter 9 at it, acting towards the lower wall 3.
[0046] In particular, in the preferred embodiment, as shown in
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the supporting element 13 is a hollow
single-piece structure with a shape that is substantially conical
(FIGS. 4 and 5), or substantially dome-shaped having the profile of
a semi-circle (FIG. 6), comprising at the base a substantially
annular resting portion 14 which can rest at the lower wall 3
advantageously perimetrically surrounding the central portion 8. In
that embodiment the volume of the compartment 12 is substantially
equivalent to that of the cavity of the supporting element 13 which
therefore forms the compartment 12 and delimits it together with
the central portion 8 of the lower wall 3.
[0047] In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) the
supporting element 13 may instead be composed of two or more
elongate rigid or semi-rigid elements, each of which if necessary
may have its ends connected to a circular base ring to form a
basket or a cage which rests on the capsule 1 lower wall 3 and
which is in contact with the filter 9, at the projection 10, by
means of the elongate elements. In that embodiment the supporting
element 13 does not substantially interfere with the volume of the
compartment 12 which is mainly delimited (as well as by the central
portion 8 of the lower wall 3) by the projection 10 (or rather by
its parts positioned between the various elongate elements).
[0048] However, preferably, the supporting element 13 is
constrained in its position in such a way that it cannot
substantially shift relative to the lower wall 3, always remaining
at the central portion 8 of it. The supporting element 13 may be
held in position by the filter 9 itself and in particular by the
projection 10 which, as indicated, is advantageously and
substantially shaped to match the supporting element 13. Moreover,
in addition or alternatively, on the lower wall 3 there may be a
groove (not illustrated) for constraining the supporting element 13
at a resting portion 14 of it. Alternatively, the supporting
element 13 may be fixed to the lower wall 3, preferably at the
resting portion 14, or it may be an integral part of the lower wall
3.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the sheet of flexible
material, at the projection 10, is shaped in such a way that it
rests substantially evenly on the supporting element 13. In some
embodiments the supporting element 13 may be fixed to the sheet of
flexible material. Fixing may be achieved by gluing or sealing or
in other substantially known ways.
[0050] In the preferred embodiment the supporting element 13
advantageously acts as a means of protection for the filter 9, at
the projection 10, against the possible action of a piercing
element (which may also be an element designed to cut or tear),
since the supporting element 13, once the piercing element has
penetrated inside the compartment 12, is interposed between the
piercing element and the filter 9.
[0051] Moreover, advantageously the supporting element 13 allows
fluid communication between the compartment 12 and the rest of the
chamber 7, through the filter 9, in such a way that the beverage,
made during use after the interaction of the water injected and the
powdered food substance, can pass, through the filter 9, from the
region of the chamber 7 where the powdered food substance is
located to the compartment 12, and then flow out of the capsule 1
at the central portion 8 of the lower wall 3.
[0052] The fluid communication can be achieved using various
methods. For example, with reference to the preferred embodiment of
the supporting element 13, it comprises openings 15, visible in
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, through which the fluid communication is
possible. In the accompanying drawings, said openings 15 are
configured like slots extending mainly vertically which extend
towards the lower wall 3 substantially as far as the resting
portion 14 of the supporting element 13, which is consequently
interrupted at them.
[0053] As already indicated, the capsule 1 according to this
invention may be used in beverage making systems based on capsules
in which water injection means pierce the lid 6 of the capsule 1 to
inject water into it, and in which the beverage extraction means
allow piercing, tearing or cutting of the lower wall 3 of the
capsule 1, at the central portion 8, for allowing the outflow of
the beverage produced following the interaction between the water
and the powdered food substance. In particular, a piercing element
may penetrate through the lower wall 3, at the central portion 8,
and be inserted in the compartment 12 (located below the projection
10) which has dimensions such that it is compatible with the travel
of the piercing element, which therefore cannot make contact with
and damage the filter 9. In the second embodiment of the capsule 1
according to this invention, the supporting 13 advantageously rules
out contact between the portion of the filter 9 corresponding to
the projection 10 and the piercing element, on one hand preventing
yielding of the projection 10 itself, and on the other hand, in
some embodiments, advantageously acting as a means of protection,
being interposed between the projection 10 and the piercing
element.
[0054] The beverage made in the chamber 7 can pass through the
filter 9, and through the openings 15 made in the supporting
element 13 when present, to enter the compartment 12 and
consequently flow out through the gap created by a piercing element
at the central portion 8 or through a channel made in the piercing
element itself if it is designed to remain inserted in the
compartment 12 for the duration of beverage dispensing.
[0055] This invention brings important advantages.
[0056] The capsule according to this invention allows the use of a
filter composed of an inexpensive sheet of flexible material, for
example paper, although it can be used according to various methods
for piercing or cutting the lower wall. In particular, thanks to
the fact that the filter comprises a projection which creates a
compartment suitable for receiving a piercing element, the filter
remains intact even after the piercing element has penetrated
inside the compartment, through the lower wall. In this way, the
piercing element of a beverage making system suitable for using the
capsule according to this invention can penetrate the capsule,
remaining inside it during beverage dispensing, or it may be
disassociated from the capsule lower wall immediately after
piercing it. Said advantages translate into improved usability of
the capsule according to this invention, since it allows users to
make good quality beverages, in any case and with any method of
penetration of the lower wall, guaranteeing the substantial absence
of powder in the beverage dispensed.
[0057] In addition, there is the advantage of simple production of
the capsule itself, deriving from the fact that the filter used has
very low production difficulties and costs, comparable to those of
prior art capsules which use a simple fabric disk as the
filter.
[0058] Finally, it should be noticed that this invention is
relatively easy to produce and that even the cost linked to
implementing the invention is not very high.
[0059] The invention described above may be modified and adapted in
several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the
inventive concept.
[0060] Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted
with other technically equivalent elements and the materials used,
as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, may
vary according to requirements.
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