DISPOSABLE CAPSULE FOR DRINKS

• US 20110030563A9
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tuttoespresso, Srl (Larene SRL)
• Original Assignee: Tuttoespresso, Srl (Larene SRL)
• Inventors: Doglioni Majer, Luca
• Granted Patent: US 8,640,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8043 Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06

Abstract

A capsule (1) for the preparation of beverages within dispensing machines, has a sealing film (4) which is perforated at the time of the use when the pressurized infusion water is supplied to the capsule and deforms the film (4), bringing it into contact with underlying perforation means (6) fixed to the same capsule.

Claims

13. A disposable capsule (C) for preparing a beverage from a food product (3) housed within it, comprising a plurality of walls (1, 1a, 1b, 2, 7) and means (9) for dispensing said beverage, characterized in that it comprises at least an element (40, 52, 54) for partitioning the internal volume of the capsule (C) into two or more volumes (62, 60) to house at least said food product (3), said partition element being fixed with respect to the capsule (C).

1. A disposable capsule (C) for preparing a beverage from a food product (3) housed therein, comprising a plurality of walls (1, 2, 8), means (9) for dispensing said beverage, means (5) for supplying a fluid inside the capsule (C), a film (4) for isolating said supplying means (5) from the external environment and means (6, 26, 36, 37) for perforating said film (4), characterized in that said means (6, 26, 36, 37) for perforating said film (4) are fixed with respect to the capsule (C) and at least a portion of the film (4) is movable between a rest position and a position where it engages said means (6, 26, 36, 37) for its perforation.

2. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, wherein said film (4) is deformable and the displacement from said rest position to said engaging position is obtained through its deformation.

3. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, wherein said film (4) is secured to a deformable portion of the capsule (C).

4. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, wherein said means (6, 26, 36, 37) for perforating said film (4) are inside the capsule (C).

5. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, wherein said means (6, 26, 36, 37) for perforating said film (4) are located between at least a wall (2) of the capsule (C) and said film (4).

6. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, wherein said means (6, 26, 36, 37) for perforating said film (4) comprise one or more cutting projections (6, 26, 36, 37), arranged on a wall (2, 7, 8, 1a, 1b) of the capsule (C) underlying the film (4).

7. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 6, wherein said cutting projections (6, 26, 36, 37) are arranged in correspondence of through holes (5) provided in said wall (2, 7) underlying the film.

8. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 7, wherein said through holes (5) are oblique with respect to the vertical axis of the capsule (C).

9. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 6, wherein at least a part of said upper wall (2) of said capsule (C) is consisting of said film (4) and said projections (36, 37) are fixed to one or more internal walls (1a, 1b, 8) of said capsule (C).

10. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, wherein said film (4) is a multi-layer film comprising films made of a plastic material, aluminium, labels, etc.

11. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, wherein said means (9) for dispensing said beverage comprise a trap (9) having a substantially square shape and being pierceable by a piercing element (50, 50A), external to the capsule (C), that has a substantially circular section (11) which diameter is lower than, or equal to, the side (10) of said trap (9).

12. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, wherein said means (9) for dispensing said beverage comprise an opening closed by a frangible film.

14. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 13, wherein said element (40, 52, 54) is separate from the capsule and can be housed internally the same.

15. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 13, wherein at least one food product (3) is housed in each of said volumes (62, 60).

16. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 13, wherein said element comprises a substantially cylindrical and hollow spacer (40) to support said food product (3) between its upper wall (41) and the upper wall (7) of said capsule (C), said upper wall (41) of said spacer (40) being in fluid connection with the lower wall (8) of said capsule (C).

17. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 16, further comprising at least a filter (50) to hold back the solid portion of said beverage food product (3) when dispensed.

18. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 16, wherein said spacer (40) is fitted in the lower portion of the capsule (C).

19. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 1, further comprising an element (40, 52, 54) for partitioning the internal volume of the capsule (C).

18-1. A disposable capsule (C) according to claim 13, wherein said means (9) for dispensing said beverage comprise a trap (9) having a substantially square shape and being pierceable by a piercing element (50, 50A) external to the capsule (C) that has a substantially circular section (11), which diameter is lower than, or equal to, the side (10) of said trap (9).

20. A method for opening a capsule (C) for the preparation of a beverage from a food product housed therein, said capsule (C) comprising a plurality of walls (1, 2, 7, 8), means (9) for dispensing said beverage, means (5) for feeding a fluid to the capsule (C), and also being provided with a film (4) for isolating said supplying means (5) from the external environment and with means (6, 26, 36, 37) for perforating said film (4), characterized by comprising the step of bringing said film (4) in contact with at least a part of said perforation means (6, 26, 36, 37)

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of applying a pressure to at least a portion of said film (4) in order to deform and bring the same in contact with said means (6, 26, 36, 37) for perforating said film (4).

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said pressure is applied by water.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said water flows through two or more internal volumes (60, 62) of said capsule (C), each volume (60, 62) containing at least a product (3).