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 ).

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.