Closed capsule with opening means
First Claim
1. A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage that is designed to be extracted by injection of a fluid under pressure, the capsule comprising a single, unitary device including several elements comprising:
- a chamber containing the substance, the chamber being closed prior to an injection of the fluid into the chamber, wherein the substance is in contact with at least a portion of an outer periphery of the capsule prior to the injection of the fluid into the chamber;
a first puncturable wall of the chamber for allowing the fluid to be injected into the chamber, wherein the first puncturable wall comprises at least a portion of the outer periphery of the capsule and wherein the first puncturable wall is welded to a remaining portion of the outer periphery of the capsule;
a second puncturable wall forming a retaining wall for the substance; and
an opening device comprising at least one puncturing element, wherein the opening device is contained within the outer periphery of the capsule, wherein the retaining wall is made of a flexible membrane and the at least one puncturing element is configured to face the flexible membrane, and wherein opening of the capsule is achieved by a relative engagement of the at least one puncturing element with the retaining wall, with the relative engagement being performed under an effect of a rise in pressure of the fluid in the chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage that is designed to be extracted by injection of a fluid under pressure. The capsule comprises a closed chamber containing the substance with at least part of the closed chamber including a retaining part made of a flexible membrane. One or more raised elements that face the membrane are associated with and forming part of the capsule. These element(s) are used to open the capsule due to a buildup of pressure therein. This rise in pressure causes relative engagement of the raised element(s) with the membrane until the membrane ruptures or is torn to release the formed beverage from the chamber. As the liquid of the beverage does not come into contact with the machine, hygiene is improved and cross-contamination is reduced when preparing a beverage from the capsule.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage that is designed to be extracted by injection of a fluid under pressure, the capsule comprising a single, unitary device including several elements comprising:
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a chamber containing the substance, the chamber being closed prior to an injection of the fluid into the chamber, wherein the substance is in contact with at least a portion of an outer periphery of the capsule prior to the injection of the fluid into the chamber; a first puncturable wall of the chamber for allowing the fluid to be injected into the chamber, wherein the first puncturable wall comprises at least a portion of the outer periphery of the capsule and wherein the first puncturable wall is welded to a remaining portion of the outer periphery of the capsule; a second puncturable wall forming a retaining wall for the substance; and an opening device comprising at least one puncturing element, wherein the opening device is contained within the outer periphery of the capsule, wherein the retaining wall is made of a flexible membrane and the at least one puncturing element is configured to face the flexible membrane, and wherein opening of the capsule is achieved by a relative engagement of the at least one puncturing element with the retaining wall, with the relative engagement being performed under an effect of a rise in pressure of the fluid in the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A process for the preparation of various beverages in an extraction machine, the process comprising:
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providing a capsule comprising a single, unitary device including several elements comprising a chamber containing a substance, the chamber being closed prior to an injection of a fluid into the chamber and the substance being in contact with at least a portion of an outer periphery of the capsule prior to the injection of the fluid into the chamber, and an opening device, wherein the opening device is contained within the outer periphery of the capsule; and introducing the fluid under pressure from an injection device of an extraction machine into the chamber to form a beverage, wherein once the pressure inside the chamber reaches a certain level, the opening device is activated to open the capsule and release the beverage and wherein the liquid of the beverage does not come into contact with the extraction machine and the capsule is supported from beneath by an element of the extraction machine.
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25. A method of preparing a beverage from a capsule containing a beverage substance in a closed chamber, the method comprising:
providing a capsule comprising a single, unitary device including several elements comprising a chamber containing the beverage substance, the chamber being closed prior to an injection of a fluid into the chamber, wherein the substance is in contact with at least a portion of an outer periphery of the capsule prior to the injection of the fluid into the chamber, a first puncturable wall of the chamber for allowing the fluid to be injected into the chamber, wherein the first puncturable wall comprises at least a portion of an outer periphery of the capsule and wherein the first puncturable wall is welded to a remaining portion of the outer periphery of the capsule, a second puncturable wall forming a retaining wall for the substance, and an opening device comprising at least one puncturing element, wherein the opening device is contained within the outer periphery of the capsule; and
introducing the fluid under pressure into the capsule to form a beverage, wherein once the pressure inside the capsule reaches a certain level, the opening device is activated to open the capsule and release the beverage.- View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage that is designed to be extracted by injection of a fluid under pressure, the capsule comprising a single, unitary device including several elements comprising:
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a chamber containing the substance, the chamber being closed prior to an injection of the fluid into the chamber, wherein the substance is in contact with at least a portion of an outer periphery of the capsule prior to the injection of the fluid into the chamber; a first puncturable wall of the chamber for allowing the fluid to be injected into the chamber, wherein the first puncturable wall comprises at least a portion of the outer periphery of the capsule and wherein the first puncturable wall is welded to a remaining portion of the outer periphery of the capsule; a second puncturable wall forming a retaining wall for the substance; and an opening device comprising at least one puncturing element, wherein the opening device is contained within the outer periphery of the capsule, wherein the closed chamber comprises two welded half-shells and the opening device comprises a rod arranged between the shells, the rod comprising at least one opening for the entry of the fluid into the closed chamber and a pointed shape for puncturing the weld between the two shells, the pointed shape further comprising a filter.
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Specification