Capsule for use in coffee extraction machines

Abstract

A capsule for containing ground coffee is disclosed, the capsule comprising a frustoconical side wall of truncated conical form which is closed at its narrower end by a base and which has at the wider end a flange which encircles the side wall and extends radially outwardly. The flange has a first surface to which a foil is secured to close the capsule and a further surface which faces the pressing sleeve of the extraction machine when the capsule is placed in the machine prior to extraction taking place. A grid pattern of intersecting sealing ribs ( 90, 92, 96, 98 ) is provided on the further surface which ribs stand proud of the go further surface.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A capsule for containing ground coffee, the capsule comprising a frustoconical side wall of truncated conical form which is closed at its narrower end by a base and which has at the wider end a flange which encircles the side wall and extends radially outwardly therefrom, the flange having a first surface to which a foil is secured to close the capsule and an opposed surface which faces the pressing sleeve of the extraction machine when the capsule is placed in the machine prior to extraction taking place, there being intersecting sealing ribs on said opposed surface which ribs stand proud of said opposed surface, there being ribs which extend radially and which intersect ribs that extend circumferentially, the ribs being triangular in cross section with their bases integral with the flange, the ribs being located in two sealing zones constituted by a radially inner ring of ribs and a radially outer ring of ribs, the ribs of the radially inner ring being greater in height and base width than the ribs of the outer ring. 
     
     
         10 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the outer ring comprises more radially extending and circumferentially extending ribs than the inner ring. 
     
     
         11 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the inner ring comprises two circumferentially extending ribs one of which intersects the radially extending ribs midway between their radially inner and radially outer ends. 
     
     
         12 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the other of the circumferentially extending ribs constitutes the radially outer edge of the inner ring. 
     
     
         13 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the outer ring comprises five circumferentially extending ribs. 
     
     
         14 . A capsule as claimed in— claim 10 , wherein each rib is bounded by sloping flanks which intersect with one another at an angle of between 25 and 45 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the angle is between 30 to 40 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A capsule as  claim 15 , wherein  15  angles is 28 and 35 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 10  and including a strengthening bead of substantially square cross-section around the periphery of the flange. 
     
     
         18 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the inner ring comprises two circumferentially extending ribs one of which intersects the radially extending ribs midway between their radially inner and radially outer ends. 
     
     
         19 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each rib is bounded by sloping flanks which intersect with one another at an angle of between 25 and 45 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each rib is bounded by sloping flanks which intersect with one another at an angle of between 25 and 45 degrees.