CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the 35 U.S.C. § 371 national stage application of PCT Application No. PCT/IB2016/055799, filed Sep. 28, 2016, where the PCT claims the priority to and benefit of Italian Patent Application No. 102016000022783, filed Mar. 4, 2016, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

This invention relates to a capsule for the preparation of infused or soluble beverages.

In particular, this invention relates a capsule for the packaging of concentrated products (for example in the form of powder, granules or leaves) in predetermined and disposable doses, for the extemporaneous preparation. of beverages (such as tea, coffee, herbal tea, milk, chocolate, etc.) by means of the introduction, into the capsule itself, of a fluid under pressure (mostly hot water).

In the field of capsules or pods for coffee or other infusions, it is known to use automatic or semi-automatic machines equipped with a dispenser group suitable to produce an infusion through the passage of hot water under pressure through the capsule containing precisely the essence to be infused or dissolved.

To prevent the pressurised fluid from passing through the substance to be infused too rapidly, without therefore spreading sufficiently inside the capsule with negative repercussions on the quality of the infused beverage, the known capsules are provided with a layer of sealing film, placed on the bottom of the capsule in correspondence of a base provided with one or more cutting or piercing points or profiles. The increase of pressure in the capsule causes the pressurised fluid to push the aluminium layer against the points on the base until it is pierced or ruptured. Once the opening is created in the layer of aluminium, the infused beverage can flow out from a suitable opening in the base of the capsule itself.

These known capsules are rather complex from the constructive point of view, particularly as regards the realisation of the cutting and piercing points and profiles on the base. Therefore, these known capsules are rather expensive, especially as concerns the production of the related moulds.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a capsule for the preparation of infused or soluble beverages that solves the problems of the prior art while taking into account the needs of the sector.

In particular, the purpose of this invention is to provide a capsule in which the opening to allow the outflow of the infused beverage occurs as a result of the deformation of a sealing disc placed to cover the bottom of the capsule due to the pressure exerted by the fluid under pressure inside it, and wherein the deformation does not interfere with the outflow of the drink passing towards the outlet nozzle, and thus allows a correct and complete outflow of the infused beverage.

This purpose is achieved by a capsule for the preparation of infused or soluble beverages according to claim1. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

