Cartridge for extracting a beverage

Abstract

A cartridge for extracting a beverage by injecting a fluid under pressure includes a containment body adapted to contain a substance and to receive such fluid under pressure. The containment body includes a bottom wall that is provided with at least one weakened portion that can be broken due to the effect of the pressure of the fluid so as to generate an opening for the outflow of the beverage. The cartridge further includes externally to the containment body, an abutment that faces without contact the bottom wall in order to limit the deformation of the bottom wall due to the effect of the pressure of the fluid and consequently limit the extent of the fracture of the at least one weakened portion.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A cartridge for extracting a beverage by injecting a fluid under pressure, comprising a containment body that is adapted to house a substance and to receive said fluid under pressure, said containment body comprising a bottom wall provided with at least one weakened portion that can be broken due to the effect of said pressure of the fluid so as to generate an opening for the outflow of the beverage, wherein the cartridge comprises, externally to said containment body, an abutment that faces without contact said bottom wall in order to limit the deformation of said bottom wall due to the effect of said pressure of the fluid and consequently limit the extent of the fracture of said at least one weakened portion. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein said abutment faces the region of said bottom wall wherein said at least one weakened portion is present. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein said abutment is provided on an obstacle that is fixed to said containment body and faces said opening for the outflow of the beverage so as to slow and/or control the outflow. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein said obstacle is a stilling basin. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge according to  claim 17 , wherein said stilling basin includes a rim that rests against said bottom wall and is provided with at least one port for the outflow of the beverage collected in said stilling basin. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge according to  claim 17 , wherein said abutment includes at least one element that protrudes from the bottom of said stilling basin toward said bottom wall of the containment body of the cartridge. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein said abutment is integral with a support that is fixed detachably to said containment body. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein said bottom wall comprises a plurality of raised portions that protrude toward the inside of the cartridge, a filter being interposed between said substance and said plurality of raised portions, and wherein said at least one weakened portion affects at least one edge at the base of at least one of said raised portions. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge according to  claim 21 , wherein said at least one weakened portion is extended along a diametrical line in a substantially central region of said bottom wall. 
     
     
         23 . The cartridge according to  claim 22 , wherein said at least one of said raised portions is extended diametrically in said substantially central region of said bottom wall and transversely with respect to said diametrical line. 
     
     
         24 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein the weakened portion is provided in a substantially circular central region of said bottom wall and comprises weakened lines which are adapted to define a pair of segments in a spiral or claw form. 
     
     
         25 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein one or more of its components is made of:
 a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide, vinyl alcohol resin, polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate;   or a combination of two or more thermoplastic polymers which are coupled together and selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide, vinyl alcohol resin, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.   
     
     
         26 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein one or more of its components is made of:
 a biodegradable material such as biodegradable polyesters, starch-based biodegradable materials, microbial polyesters, biodegradable vinyl alcohol resins, biobased thermoplastics or polyhydroxyalkanoates;   or a combination of two or more biodegradable materials which are coupled together and selected from the group consisting of biodegradable polyesters, starch-based biodegradable materials, microbial polyesters, biodegradable vinyl alcohol resins, biobased thermoplastics, and polyhydroxyalkanoates.   
     
     
         27 . The cartridge according to  claim 14 , wherein said abutment faces the central region of said bottom wall.