US-20260125205-A1 - CAPSULE FOR THE PREPARATION OF A BEVERAGE

US20260125205A1US 20260125205 A1US20260125205 A1US 20260125205A1US-20260125205-A1

Abstract

A capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device is disclosed. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body and a cover for closing the cup-shaped body. The cup-shaped body comprises an annular flange for the cover to seal thereon. At least the cup-shaped body is made of cellulose pulp and comprises: a bottom wall, a tubular lateral wall and the annular flange. The lateral tubular wall is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped body in a first direction. The cup-shaped body further comprises a connecting wall connecting the lateral wall and the annular flange. The connecting wall comprises at least a part protruding outward with respect to the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body. This protruding part cooperates with an edge of a capsule enclosing member of the beverage preparation device for improving leak tightness during the preparation of the beverage.

Inventors

Daniel Abegglen
Nicola Galaffu
MICHAEL KARLHEINZ HAUSMANN

Assignees

SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20221026
Priority Date: 20211029

Claims (11)

1 . A capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device, the capsule comprising: a cup-shaped body, and a cover for closing the cup-shaped body, said cup-shaped body is made of cellulose pulp and comprises a bottom wall, a tubular lateral wall and an annular flange for the cover to seal thereon, wherein said lateral wall and said annular flange are connected by a connecting wall of the cup-shaped body, wherein said connecting wall comprises at least a part protruding outward with respect to said lateral wall; and said at least a protruding part cooperating with an edge of a capsule enclosing member of the beverage preparation device for improving leak tightness during the preparation of the beverage.
2 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding part is integral with both the lateral wall and said annular flange of the capsule and is made of cellulose pulp.
3 . The capsule according to claim 12 , wherein the density of the at least a protruding part of the connecting wall is less than the maximum density of said lateral wall.
4 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein said at least a protruding part has a greater thickness than the maximum thickness of said lateral wall.
5 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a protruding part of the connecting wall has a rounded shape.
6 . The capsule according to claim 3 , wherein the difference between the maximum density D 1 of the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body and the density D 2 of the protruding part of the connecting wall is a value comprised between 0.1% of D 1 and 20% of D 1 , that is: 1 ⁢ % ⁢ D ⁢ 1 ≤ ( D ⁢ 1 - D ⁢ 2 ) ≤ 20 ⁢ % ⁢ D ⁢ 1
7 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting wall comprises at least one inner surface facing the cavity of the cup-shaped body, wherein said inner surface, seen in longitudinal section, is inclined in a direction forming an angle with the direction of inclination of the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body, wherein said angle is comprised between 100° and 150° and preferably is about 135°.
8 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein at least the protruding part of the connecting wall has a shape chosen from one of following shapes, or has a shape which is a combination of one or more shapes selected from the group consisting of: externally said protruding part has a rounded shape and internally said protruding part has a flat shape inclined with respect of a longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped body; externally and internally said protruding part has a rounded shape; externally and internally said protruding part has a flat shape inclined with respect of a longitudinal axis of the of the cup-shaped body; and externally and internally said protruding part has a stepped shape.
9 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the cup-shaped body is made of cellulose pulp comprising cellulose fibres in a percentage ranging from 80% to 100% by weight, and comprises at least an oxygen barrier liner attached at the inner and/or outer surface of said cup shaped body made of cellulose pulp, wherein said oxygen barrier liner is made of at least a home compostable polymer.
10 . The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein said capsule is a single use coffee capsule.
11 . (canceled)

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body made of cellulose pulp. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Containers or capsules made of cellulose pulp are known in the field of beverage preparation devices. Materials made of cellulose pulp are also known which are capable of maintaining the qualities of the beverage substance in the capsule, at least for a certain period of time. Single-use capsules for preparing a beverage in a beverage production device are also known. These single-use capsules made of cellulose pulp provide a potential reduced environmental impact compared to capsules made of other materials. Known cellulose pulp made capsules are used in beverage preparation devices and comprise a member enclosing the capsule during the beverage preparation process and the injection of water in the capsule for the preparation of the beverage. It is essential that the engagement between the capsule and the enclosing member is tight to prevent water injected into the capsule from flowing outside of the capsule body. In the event that the sealing engagement between the capsule and the enclosing member is not good, the water flows outside the capsule without encountering a sufficient resistance to the flow, the pressure necessary to cause tearing of capsule cover will not be built up inside the capsule or, alternatively, the low pressure will cause an incomplete tearing of the cover and therefore a poor extraction of the beverage substance contained in the capsule. In such a scenario water will be drained from the beverage production device without having interacted or completely interacted with the beverage substance under sufficient pressure conditions. The present invention aims at an improving of the leak-tightness features of the known cellulose pulp made capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention as claimed in claim 1 is a capsule for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage preparation device. The capsule comprises a cup-shaped body and a cover for closing the cup-shaped body, wherein the cup-shaped body comprises an annular flange for the cover to seal thereon. At least the cup-shaped body is made of cellulose pulp and comprises a bottom wall, a tubular lateral wall and the annular flange. The cup-shaped body further comprises a connecting wall connecting the lateral wall and the annular flange. According to the invention, the connecting wall comprises at least a part protruding outward with respect to the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body. Advantageously, this protruding part cooperates with an edge of a capsule enclosing member of the beverage preparation device for improving leak tightness during the preparation of the beverage. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the density of the protruding part is less than the maximum density of the lateral wall and the thickness of this protruding part is greater than the maximum thickness of the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body, so as to increase the deformability of the protruding part and also improve the leak tightness during the preparation of the beverage. More preferably, according to this preferred embodiment of the invention, the difference between the maximum density of the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body and the density of the protruding part of the connecting wall is a value comprised between 0.1% and 20%. Even more preferably, the difference between the maximum density of the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body and the density of the protruding part of the connecting wall is a value comprised between 0.1% and 10%. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the protruding part of the connecting wall has a rounded shape and, preferably, the external profile of the protruding part is an arc of a circle. According to another preferred embodiment, the connecting wall comprises at least one inner surface facing the cavity of the cup-shaped body. This inner surface, seen in longitudinal section, is inclined in a direction forming an angle with the direction of inclination of the lateral wall of the cup-shaped body. The angle is comprised between 100° and 150° and preferably is about 135°. According to a still preferred aspect of the invention, the protruding part of the connecting wall has a shape chosen from one of following shapes, or has a shape which is a combination of one or more of following shapes: externally the protruding part of the connecting wall has a rounded shape and internally the protruding part of the connecting wall has a flat shape inclined with respect of a longitudinal axis of the of the cup-shaped body; and/orexternally and internally the protruding part of the connecting wall has a rounded shape; and/orexternally and internally the protruding part of the connecting wall has a flat shape inclined with respect of