Pod for beverage preparation ingredient

Abstract

A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body (202) defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient. Said body comprises a closed surface having a central axis (B); and a side wall (210) disposed around the central axis, extending from the closed surface (214) in a direction away from the closed surface, wherein an edge (216) of the side wall distal from the closed surface defines a dispensing side of the body. The pod further comprises a closing member for closing the dispensing side and scaling the cavity. The body further defines an actuation member (204) extending from the closed surface of the pod towards the dispensing side. The actuation member being configured to exert a force on the closing member to cause an opening to be formed between the cavity and a region outside of the pod around the perimeter of the wall at the dispensing side.

1 . A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation, the pod comprising:
 a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, the body comprising:
 a closed surface having a central axis; and 
 a side wall disposed around the central axis, extending from the closed surface in a direction away from the closed surface; 
 wherein an edge of the side wall distal from the closed surface defines a dispensing side of the body; and 
   a closing member for closing the dispensing side and sealing the cavity;   wherein the body further defines an actuation member extending from the closed surface of the pod towards the dispensing side, the actuation member being configured to exert a force on the closing member to cause an opening to be formed between the cavity and a region outside of the pod around the perimeter of the wall at the dispensing side.   
     
     
         2 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuation member is configured to move in an axial direction in response to an axial force being applied to the pod. 
     
     
         3 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuation member is selected from a group of:
 (i) a fin; or   (ii) an elongated slot.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a plurality of actuation members. 
     
     
         6 . A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation, the pod comprising:
 a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, the body comprising:
 a closed surface having a central axis; and 
 a side wall disposed around the central axis, extending from the closed surface in a direction away from the closed surface; 
 wherein an edge of the side wall distal from the closed surface defines a dispensing side of the body; 
   a closing member for closing the dispensing side and sealing the cavity; and   an actuation member provided radially outwards of the side wall, the actuation member being configured to exert a force on the closing member to cause an opening to be formed between the cavity and a region outside of the pod around the perimeter of the wall at the dispensing side.   
     
     
         7 . A pod according to  claim 6 , wherein the actuation member at least partly surrounds the side wall and the closed surface, and is configured to exert a force on the closing member by moving in a generally axial direction relative to at least part of the body. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a rim extending radially outwards around a perimeter of the side wall at the dispensing side and the closing member is sealed to the rim to close the cavity in a sealing region. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A pod according to  claim 11 , wherein the rim comprises a mounting flange and the mounting flange extends radially outwards around a perimeter of the rim and the mounting flange is axially offset from the dispensing side. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein a mounting flange defines a downwardly facing mounting surface for supporting the pod in a dispensing apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . A pod according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 a rim extending radially outwards around a perimeter of the side wall at the dispensing side comprises a plurality of apertures spaced around the rim and the actuation member comprises a plurality of protrusions; and   each of the plurality of protrusions of the actuation member is received in an aperture of the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A pod according to  claim 18 , wherein the closing member, when sealing the cavity, covers a face of each of the plurality of apertures, and the plurality of protrusions are configured to move in a generally axial direction through the plurality of apertures to exert a force on the closing member. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein the body further defines a central channel, the central channel being disposed concentrically with the central axis and radially inwards of the side wall;
 the central channel extending at least from the closed surface to the dispending side, and no openings are provided between the central channel and the cavity.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the body and the actuation member is a single integral component. 
     
     
         25 . A pod according to  claim 6 , wherein the body and the actuation member snap fittingly engage. 
     
     
         26 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the closed surface and the actuation member comprises strengthening ribs. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A pod according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuation member is an actuation column, and the actuation column is integrally formed with the closed surface, and a diameter of the body at the dispensing side is between around 2 to around 7 times larger than a diameter of the actuation column at an end of the actuation column furthest from the closed surface. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A pod according to  claim 29 , wherein the actuation column is generally rotationally symmetrical about the central axis, and the actuation column is configured to move in a generally axial direction along the central axis in response to an axial force being applied to the pod. 
     
     
         33 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation, the pod comprising:
 a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending between the dispensing side and the closed side;   a closing member for closing the dispensing side;   an actuation column extending through the cavity from the closed surface towards the dispensing side of the body;   wherein the pod has a first configuration and a second configuration;   in the first configuration the closing member is attached to the body and seals the cavity;   in the second configuration an opening is provided around the perimeter of the at least one side wall at a junction between the closing member at the at least one side wall; and   wherein the pod transitions from the first configuration to the second configuration when the actuation column is actuated and exerts a force on the closing member to cause the opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside of the pod.   
     
     
         40 . A pod according to  claim 39 , wherein the opening is formed around the entire perimeter of the side wall, and wherein the closing member is a film which is configured to remain attached to the body when the opening is formed. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A pod according to  claim 6 , wherein the side wall diverges from the central axis as it extends from the closed surface to the dispensing side. 
     
     
         43 - 53 . (canceled)