Capsule for preparing a drink and method for preparing a drink using such capsule

Abstract

A method for preparing a drink by passing hot water in a capsule ( 1 ), in which first at least one cut ( 10 ) extending in a linear fashion is made through the second wall ( 3 ) of the capsule ( 1 ), substantially without removing material from it. The adjacent portions ( 11 ) of the second wall ( 3 ) delimiting the cut ( 10 ) are then allowed to draw near one another again if necessary, then, by injecting hot water into the capsule, the internal pressure in the capsule is increased to cause at least partial expulsion of the air contained in it substantially without dispensing the liquid, and, then, by deformation of the second wall ( 3 ), the adjacent portions ( 11 ) delimiting the cut ( 10 ) are moved away from one another, allowing the drink to flow out. The invention also relates to an apparatus and a capsule for implementing this method.

1 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A capsule for preparing drinks containing a substance to be extracted and comprising at least a first wall ( 2 ) designed to form an inlet wall for the water to be injected into the capsule, and a second wall ( 3 ) designed to form an outlet wall for a drink obtained by the interaction between the water and the substance to be extracted, the second wall ( 3 ) having at least one cut ( 10 ) extending in a linear fashion, substantially made without removing material from the second wall ( 3 ), and delimited by two adjacent portions ( 11 ) of the second wall drawn near one another, the cut ( 10 ) having a size and/or shape such that, after the adjacent portions ( 11 ) delimiting it have drawn near one another again if necessary, substantially, directly or indirectly, it prevents the passage of liquid, the capsule being characterized in that the cut ( 10 ) has a transversal size and/or a shape such that, after the adjacent portions ( 11 ) delimiting it have drawn near one another again if necessary, while substantially preventing, directly or indirectly, the passage of liquid it allows the passage of air at least when a minimal overpressure is created in the capsule, said adjacent portions being deformable towards the outside of the capsule in such a way to form an opening for the beverage flowing out. 
     
     
         59 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , characterised in that the distance between two non-adjacent points of the cut is always greater than the reciprocal distance between all of the points in between the first two. 
     
     
         60 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , characterised in that the cut ( 10 ) has a size and/or shape such that, after the adjacent portions ( 11 ) delimiting it have drawn near one another again if necessary, it substantially prevents the passage of particles of the substance contained in the capsule ( 1 ), the particles and the cut ( 10 ) operating in conjunction with one another to prevent the passage of the liquid. 
     
     
         61 . The capsule according to  claim 59 , characterised in that the cut ( 10 ) has a size and/or shape such that, after the adjacent portions ( 11 ) delimiting it have drawn near one another again if necessary, it substantially prevents the passage of particles of the substance contained in the capsule ( 1 ), the particles and the cut ( 10 ) operating in conjunction with one another to prevent the passage of the liquid. 
     
     
         62 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , characterised in that the cut ( 10 ) has a length of between 2 and 6 mm. 
     
     
         63 . The capsule according to  claim 59 , characterised in that the cut ( 10 ) has a length of between 2 and 6 mm. 
     
     
         64 . The capsule according to  claim 60 , characterised in that the cut ( 10 ) has a length of between 2 and 6 mm. 
     
     
         65 . The capsule according to  claim 61 , characterised in that the cut ( 10 ) has a length of between 2 and 6 mm. 
     
     
         66 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , characterised in that it has a plurality of cuts ( 10 ), each delimited by two adjacent portions ( 11 ) drawn near one another. 
     
     
         67 . The capsule according to  claim 59 , characterised in that it has a plurality of cuts ( 10 ), each delimited by two adjacent portions ( 11 ) drawn near one another. 
     
     
         68 . The capsule according to  claim 64 , characterised in that said cuts ( 10 ) are each in a different zone of the second wall ( 3 ). 
     
     
         69 . The capsule according to  claim 65 , characterised in that said cuts ( 10 ) are each in a different zone of the second wall ( 3 ). 
     
     
         70 . The capsule according to  claim 64 , characterised in that at least some of said cuts ( 10 ) intersect. 
     
     
         71 . The capsule according to  claim 65 , characterised in that at least some of said cuts ( 10 ) intersect. 
     
     
         72 . A method for preparing a drink by passing hot water in a capsule ( 1 ) realized according to  claim 58 , the method comprising the operating steps of:
 creating a first opening through the first wall ( 2 ) of the capsule ( 1 );   creating a second opening ( 7 ) through the second wall ( 3 ) of the capsule ( 1 );   injecting hot water into the capsule ( 1 ) through the first opening; and   making the drink flow out through the second opening ( 7 );
 the method being characterised in that the step of creating the second opening ( 7 ) in turn comprises the operating steps of: 
   allowing the adjacent portions ( 11 ) of the second wall ( 3 ), which delimit the cut ( 10 ), to draw near one another again if necessary; and   after said drawing near again and by means of said injection of hot water, increasing the internal pressure in the capsule ( 1 ) to cause, in succession:   at least partial expulsion of the air contained in the capsule without substantial dispensing of the drink; and   by means of an outward deformation of the second wall ( 3 ) at least at said adjacent portions ( 11 ), a movement away from one another by the adjacent portions ( 11 ) delimiting the cut ( 10 ), allowing the drink to flow out.   
     
     
         73 . The method according to  claim 72 , wherein in the capsule ( 1 ) the distance between two non-adjacent points of the cut ( 10 ) is always greater than the reciprocal distance between all of the points in between the first two. 
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 72 , wherein in the capsule ( 1 ) the cut ( 10 ) has a size and/or shape such that, after the adjacent portions ( 11 ) delimiting it have drawn near one another again if necessary, it substantially prevents the passage of particles of the substance contained in the capsule ( 1 ), the particles and the cut ( 10 ) operating in conjunction with one another to prevent the passage of the liquid. 
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein in the capsule ( 1 ) the cut ( 10 ) has a size and/or shape such that, after the adjacent portions ( 11 ) delimiting it have drawn near one another again if necessary, it substantially prevents the passage of particles of the substance contained in the capsule ( 1 ), the particles and the cut ( 10 ) operating in conjunction with one another to prevent the passage of the liquid.