Capsules And Other Containers With Optimized Recycling Attributes And Methods For Making Same

Abstract

A beverage capsule includes a body defining an interior space having an opening. A filter is disposed in the interior space to define an ingredients chamber for containing and filtering ingredients for preparing a desired beverage product. The filter is formed of a hydrophobic and non-absorbent polymer material having a basis weight of less than 40 gsm, wherein said filter has a tensile strength of less than 100 N/5 cm in the Machine Direction (MD) and 70 N/5 cm or less in the Cross Direction (CD). The ingredients are disposed in the ingredients chamber for preparing the desired beverage product. A cover is disposed on the body to close the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine to prepare a beverage product, said beverage capsule comprising:
 a body defining an interior space having an opening;   a filter disposed in said interior space to define an ingredients chamber for containing and filtering ingredients for preparing a desired beverage product, said filter being formed of a hydrophobic and non-absorbent polymer material having a basis weight of less than 40 gsm, wherein said filter has a tensile strength of less than 100 N/5 cm in the Machine Direction (MD) and less than 70 N/5 cm in the Cross Direction (CD);   said ingredients being disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing the desired beverage product; and   a cover disposed on said body to close said opening.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage capsule of  claim 1  wherein said filter has a basis weight in the range of 10-30 gsm. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage capsule of  claim 1  wherein said filter has a basis weight of no more than 25 g/m2. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage capsule of  claim 1  wherein said filter has a tensile strength in the range of 20-70 N/5 cm in the Machine Direction (MD) and 10-40 N/5 cm in the Cross Direction (CD). 
     
     
         5 . The beverage capsule of  claim 1  wherein said filter has a tensile strength in the range of 20-60 N/5 cm in the Machine Direction (MD) and 10-30 N/5 cm in the Cross Direction (CD). 
     
     
         6 . The beverage capsule of  claim 1  wherein said filter also has a material tear strength of 15 N or less in the Machine Direction (MD) and 20 N or less in the Cross Direction (CD). 
     
     
         7 . The beverage capsule of  claim 1  wherein said filter also has a material tear strength in the range of 3-10 N in the Machine Direction (MD) and 3-10 N in the Cross Direction (CD). 
     
     
         8 . The beverage capsule of  claim 1  wherein said filter also has an elongation to break value of 50% or less in the Machine Direction (MD) and 40% or less in the Cross Direction (CD). 
     
     
         9 . The beverage capsule of  claim 1  wherein said filter is formed of bi-component fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage capsule of  claim 9  wherein said filter has a cast polypropylene (CPP) core and a polypropylene (PP) sheath. 
     
     
         11 . The capsule of  claim 1  wherein the filter is sealed to said body within said interior space. 
     
     
         12 . The capsule of  claim 1  wherein said body includes a sidewall and an end wall that define said interior space. 
     
     
         13 . The capsule of  claim 12  wherein said filter is sealed to said sidewall within said interior space at a location that is in the middle one-third of a distance between said opening and said end wall. 
     
     
         14 . The capsule of  claim 1  wherein said cover is peelably sealed to said body to enable said cover to be at least partially separated from said body following use of said capsule. 
     
     
         15 . The capsule of  claim 1  wherein said cover includes a hinge, that is permanently sealed at a hinge zone to said body, and a peelable portion that is peelably sealed at a peel zone to said body to enable said cover to be partially separated from said body following use of said capsule while remaining connected at said hinge. 
     
     
         16 . A beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine to prepare a beverage product, said beverage capsule comprising:
 a body defining an interior space having an opening;   a filter disposed in said interior space to define an ingredients chamber for containing and filtering ingredients for preparing a desired beverage product, said filter being formed of a hydrophobic and non-absorbent polymer material having a basis weight of less than 40 gsm, wherein said filter has a material tear strength of 15 N or less in the Machine Direction (MD) and 20 N or less in the Cross Direction (CD);   said ingredients being disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing the desired beverage product; and   a cover disposed on said body to close said opening.   
     
     
         17 . A beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine to prepare a beverage product, said beverage capsule comprising:
 a body defining an interior space having an opening;   a filter disposed in said interior space to define an ingredients chamber for containing and filtering ingredients for preparing a desired beverage product, said filter being formed of a hydrophobic and non-absorbent polymer material having a basis weight of less than 40 gsm, wherein said filter has an elongation to break value of 50% or less in the Machine Di-rection (MD) and 40% or less in the Cross Direction (CD);   said ingredients being disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing the desired beverage product; and   a cover disposed on said body to close said opening.