Capsule for use with a beverage production machine

Abstract

A capsule body is adapted for containing one or more beverage ingredients for use in a beverage preparation machine. The capsule body includes a base body having side walls defining a cavity for receiving the one or more beverage ingredients, a flange-like rim extending from the side walls and a sealing member adapted to provide a sealed engagement between the capsule body and the beverage preparation machine. The side walls include an inner surface facing the cavity defined by the side walls and an outer surface facing the beverage preparation machine in use. The sealing member is positioned on a surface of the flange like rim that extends from the inner surface of the side walls.

1 . A capsule body adapted for containing one or more beverage ingredients for use in a beverage preparation machine comprising:
 a base body having side walls defining a cavity for receiving the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the side walls include an inner surface facing the cavity defined by the side walls and an outer surface facing the beverage preparation machine in use,   a flange-like rim extending from the side walls; and   a sealing member adapted to provide a sealed engagement between the capsule body and the beverage preparation machine;   wherein the sealing member is positioned on a surface of the flange like rim that extends from the inner surface of the side walls.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the side walls are shaped as an acute truncated cone. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange-like rim is formed with one or more slots and/or slits. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule body according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more slots extend in a circumferential direction around the flange-like rim. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule body according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more slots provides an opening that is 0.3 mm-1 mm wide. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule body according to  claim 3 , wherein the slots are separated by bridge components formed from material forming the capsule body. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule body according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more slits extend in a radial direction of the flange-like rim. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule body according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more slits are micro pre-cuts or stamping marks. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule body according to  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of slits extends from the slots in a radial direction and wherein the plurality of slits extend from an edge of the slot that is distal to the side walls. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule body is formed from aluminum sheet and wherein the aluminum sheet on at least a portion of the flange like rim is 50-150 μm. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The capsule body according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one surface of the aluminum sheet is laminated with a polymer material and comprising slots separated by bridge components, wherein the bridge components are from by the polymer material laminated on the aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is ring shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member has an ‘L’ shaped cross-section, wherein the ‘L’ shaped cross-section includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the hardness of the first leg is different that of the second leg, wherein one leg of the sealing member is fitted along the inner surface of the side walls and wherein the hardness of the one leg fitted along the inner surface of the side walls is more than that of the leg fitted on the flange-like rim. 
     
     
         17 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member has step shaped cross-section formed with an inner ring portion and an outer ring portion, wherein the inner ring portion is thicker than the outer ring portion. 
     
     
         21 . The capsule body according to  claim 20 , wherein the sealing member is formed with a first layer overlaid on a second layer, wherein the first layer is formed from material selected to be softer than the second layer, and wherein the inner ring includes both the first layer and the second layer and wherein the outer ring portion is formed from the material of the second layer. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member extends from an edge between the flange-like rim and the side walls to a curl in on outer edge of the flange. 
     
     
         24 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is formed from a polymer material. 
     
     
         25 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is applied on the flange-like rim as a liquid and cured in place. 
     
     
         26 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is partially exposed through the flange-like rim. 
     
     
         27 . The capsule body according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is color coded to provide indication regarding the contents of the capsule. 
     
     
         28 . A capsule for use in a beverage preparation machine, the capsule adapted for containing one or more beverage ingredients, the capsule comprising:
 a capsule body comprising:
 a base body having side walls defining a cavity for receiving the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the side walls include an inner surface facing the cavity defined by the side walls and an outer surface facing the beverage preparation machine in use; 
 a flange-like rim extending from the side walls; and 
 a sealing member adapted to provide a sealed engagement between the capsule body and the beverage preparation machine; 
 wherein the sealing member is positioned on a surface of the flange like rim that extends from the inner surface of the side walls; and 
   a membrane adapted to be positioned over the flange-like rim and thereby enclose the cavity defined by the capsule body;   wherein the sealing member is positioned between the flange like rim and the membrane adapted to enclose the cavity defined by the capsule body.   
     
     
         29 . The capsule according to  claim 28 , comprising coffee. 
     
     
         30 . The capsule according to  claim 28 , wherein the capsule comprises an additional layer between the sealing member and the flange-like rim.