Capsule For Beverages

Abstract

A capsule for beverages includes a casing in turn including a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity suitable for containing an initial product to be combined with a fluid to obtain an end product and also an edge extending from the side wall. The capsule further includes a cover element fixed to the edge to close the cavity hermetically, which is perforable by an extracting means of a dispensing machine in which said capsule is usable. The casing is made by forming a sheet of thermoformable plastic material and the edge includes a sealing element including at least one protrusion facing the base wall which is also obtainable by forming the sheet material that defines at least one further cavity which opens upwards in a direction opposite said base wall and has a bottom with a thickness comprised between 0.15 mm and 0.90 mm. The cover element has dimensions so as to cover only partially the edge.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A capsule for beverages comprising a casing in turn comprising: a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity suitable for containing an initial product to be combined with a fluid to obtain an end product, and moreover an edge extending from said side wall; wherein said capsule further comprises a cover element fixed to said edge to close said cavity hermetically, said cover element being perforable by an extracting arrangement of a dispensing machine wherein said capsule is usable, said casing being made by forming a sheet of thermoformable plastic material and said edge comprising a sealing element comprising at least one protrusion facing said base wall which is also obtainable by said forming and defines at least one further cavity characterised in that said further cavity is open in a direction opposite said base wall and in that a thickness of a bottom of said cavity, consisting of a base wall of said protrusion, is comprised between 0.15 mm and 0.90 mm. 
     
     
         39 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said thickness is comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.60 mm, in particular equal to 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         40 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said protrusion is arranged in a first circumferal annular zone of said edge. 
     
     
         41 . The capsule according to  claim 40 , wherein said sealing element comprises a single continuous annular protrusion arranged in said first annular zone. 
     
     
         42 . The capsule according to  claim 40 , wherein said sealing element comprises a plurality of protrusions arranged in separate portions of said first annular zone. 
     
     
         43 . The capsule according to  claim 42 , wherein the protrusions of said plurality of protrusions are arranged alternatingly in separate portions of said first annular zone and of a second circumferal annular zone of said edge, arranged externally in a radial direction with respect to said first annular zone. 
     
     
         44 . The capsule according to  claim 40 , wherein said first annular zone has a radial extent comprised in an interval from 1.00 mm to 4.00 mm, in particular in an interval comprised between 1.50 mm and 2.50 mm, in particular equal to 1.65 mm. 
     
     
         45 . The capsule according to  claim 40 , wherein said first annular zone has a distance from said side wall that is less than 4.00 mm, in particular 0.75 mm. 
     
     
         46 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said protrusion has a longitudinal extent comprised between 0.30 mm and 0.80 mm, said longitudinal extent being measured along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the capsule from a surface of a flat annular end of said edge facing said base wall of said capsule to a base wall of said protrusion; and wherein in particular said longitudinal extent is constant and equal to 0.75 mm, if said base wall of said protrusion is parallel to said base wall of said capsule. 
     
     
         47 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said flat annular end has a radial extent of at least 3 mm. 
     
     
         48 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said flat annular end of said edge has a further thickness comprised between 0.15 mm and 0.90 mm, in particular comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.60 mm, still more in particular equal to 0.25 mm, said further thickness in combination with said thickness being such as to enable said sealing element to flex and deform when compressed by an abutting arrangement of said dispensing machine. 
     
     
         49 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein a first side wall and a second side wall of said protrusion both have a thickness comprised between 0.15 mm and 0.90 mm, in particular comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.60 mm, still more in particular equal to 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         50 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, along a first annular joining portion on an edge portion of the capsule interposed between said first annular zone and said side wall. 
     
     
         51 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, along a second annular joining portion that is external in a direction that is radial with respect to said first annular zone, on the flat annular end of the edge. 
     
     
         52 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, in zones of said edge that are staggered in relation to one another in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said capsule. 
     
     
         53 . The capsule according to  claim 52 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, along a single annular joining portion that extends along the entire edge, also extending inside said cavity. 
     
     
         54 . The capsule according to  claim 52 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, along a first annular joining portion that is internal in a direction that is radial with respect to said first annular zone, along a second annular joining portion that is external in a direction that is radial with respect to said annular zone, on the flat annular end of the edge and along a third annular joining portion located on the bottom of said cavity. 
     
     
         55 . The capsule according to  claim 52 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, along a first annular joining portion that is internal in a direction that is radial with respect to said first annular zone and along a third annular joining portion located on the bottom of said cavity. 
     
     
         56 . The capsule according to  claim 52 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, along a further single annular joining portion that extends along the edge as far as the beginning of the flat annular end, extending inside the cavity, without, however, extending above the flat annular end. 
     
     
         57 . The capsule according to  claim 38 , wherein said sheet of thermoformable plastic material comprises at least a first layer of material, in particular suitable for contacting and/or preserving said initial product and a second layer of material, made of material that is impermeable to gases, in particular to oxygen. 
     
     
         58 . A capsule for beverages comprising a casing in turn comprising: a base wall and a side wall defining a cavity suitable for containing an initial product to be combined with a fluid to obtain an end product, and also an edge extending from said side wall; wherein said capsule further comprises a cover element fixed to said edge to close said cavity hermetically, said cover element being perforable by an extracting arrangement of a dispensing machine in which said capsule is usable, said casing being made by forming a sheet of thermoformable plastic material and said edge comprising a sealing element comprising at least one protrusion facing said base wall which is also obtainable by said forming and defines at least one further cavity characterised in that said further cavity is open in a direction opposite said base wall, and in that said cover element has dimensions so as to cover only partially said edge and is joined to said edge in particular by thermowelding in at least one zone of said edge. 
     
     
         59 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , wherein said edge has a flat annular end. 
     
     
         60 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, along a first annular joining portion that is internal in a radial direction with respect to said first cavity and along a further annular joining portion located on the bottom of said cavity. 
     
     
         61 . The capsule according to  claim 59 , wherein said cover element is joined to said edge of said capsule, in particular by thermowelding, along a further single annular joining portion that extends along the edge as far as the beginning of said flat annular end of said edge, extending inside the cavity, but without extending above said flat annular end. 
     
     
         62 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , wherein a thickness of a bottom of said cavity, consisting of a base wall of said protrusion, is comprised between 0.15 mm and 0.90 mm. 
     
     
         63 . The capsule according to  claim 62 , wherein said thickness is comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.60 mm, in particular equal to 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         64 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , wherein said protrusion is arranged in a first circumferal annular zone of said edge. 
     
     
         65 . The capsule according to  claim 64 , wherein said sealing element comprises a single continuous annular protrusion arranged in said first annular zone. 
     
     
         66 . The capsule according to  claim 64 , wherein said sealing element comprises a plurality of protrusions arranged in separate portions of said first annular zone. 
     
     
         67 . The capsule according to  claim 66 , wherein the protrusions of said plurality of protrusions are arranged alternatingly in separate portions of said first annular zone and of a second circumferal annular zone of said edge, arranged externally in a radial direction with respect to said first annular zone. 
     
     
         68 . The capsule according to  claim 64 , wherein said first annular zone has a radial extent comprised in an interval from 1.00 mm to 4.00 mm, in particular in an interval comprised between 1.50 mm and 2.50 mm, in particular equal to 1.65 mm. 
     
     
         69 . The capsule according to  claim 64 , wherein said first annular zone has a distance from said side wall that is less than 4.00 mm, in particular 0.75 mm. 
     
     
         70 . The capsule according to  claim 59 , wherein said protrusion has a longitudinal extent comprised between 0.30 mm and 0.80 mm, said longitudinal extent being measured along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the capsule from a surface of said flat annular end of said edge facing said base wall of said capsule to a base wall of said protrusion; and wherein in particular said longitudinal extent is constant and equal to 0.75 mm, if said base wall of said protrusion is parallel to said base wall of said capsule. 
     
     
         71 . The capsule according to  claim 59 , wherein said flat annular end, has a radial extent of at least 3 mm. 
     
     
         72 . The capsule according to  claim 59 , wherein said flat annular end of said edge has a further thickness comprised between 0.15 mm and 0.90 mm, in particular comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.60 mm, still more in particular equal to 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         73 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , wherein a first side wall and a second side wall of said protrusion both have a thickness comprised between 0.15 mm and 0.90 mm, in particular comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.60 mm, still more in particular equal to 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         74 . The capsule according to  claim 58 , wherein said sheet of thermoformable plastic material comprises at least a first layer of material, in particular suitable for contacting and/or preserving said initial product and a second layer of material, made of material that is impermeable to gases, in particular to oxygen.