Pre-charged ground coffee capsule

Abstract

A pre-charged ground coffee capsule is described. The capsule has a container body made of a metal foil material combined with a film of thermoplastic material. The container body is open at one end, the end being joined to a closing surface made of the same material. The container body is associated with a structural stiffening member provided with a plurality of through-openings and arranged in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container body.

1 . Pre-charged ground coffee capsule comprising a container body made of a metal foil material combined with a film of thermoplastic material, said container body being open at one end, said end being joined to a closing surface also made of a metal foil material combined with a film of thermoplastic material, said container body being associated with a structural stiffening member provided with a plurality of through-openings and arranged in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said container body. 
     
     
         2 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein said stiffening member is located within said container body. 
     
     
         3 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein said stiffening member is located outside said container body. 
     
     
         4 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein said stiffening member is provided with a peripheral wall which is perpendicular to a plane of said stiffening member. 
     
     
         5 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 4 , wherein said peripheral wall is provided with an outwardly projecting radial flange. 
     
     
         6 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 4 , wherein said peripheral wall is discontinuous and formed by a plurality of parallel webs which are equally spaced from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 2 , further comprising a water-permeable layer of filter material arranged on said stiffening member and facing an inside of said container body. 
     
     
         8 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein said stiffening member includes a substantially disc-shaped element comprising a peripheral ring and a plurality of radial elements converging toward the center of the stiffening member and equally spaced from each other, said radial elements defining a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         9 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 8 , further comprising a recess communicating with the plurality of openings, the recess being formed in the center of said stiffening member. 
     
     
         10 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 4 , wherein said stiffening member comprises a bottom wall provided with a flexible dome shaped portion and, centrally, with a more rigid body which is provided with perforating means, wherein a plurality of openings is formed in said wall. 
     
     
         11 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 3 , wherein said stiffening member is provided with a peripheral wall which is perpendicular to the plane of said stiffening member. 
     
     
         12 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 11 , wherein said wall is provided with an outwardly projecting radial flange. 
     
     
         13 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 11 , wherein said stiffening member is provided, on its bottom wall, with reliefs projecting toward said container body. 
     
     
         14 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 13 , wherein said bottom wall is provided with through-holes. 
     
     
         15 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 13 , wherein said side wall is provided with a plurality of channels communicating with said bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . The pre-charged capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the container body is cylindrical or frustoconical.