Prepackaged pod for brewing hot beverages and method for producing the same

Abstract

A pod to be used in machines for brewing hot beverages. For example, a pod comprises two water-permeable filtering elements coupled to each other along a periphery forming a casing, which contains substances extractable by forced percolation, in which said periphery is sealed and embedded by a sealing flange of the pod that extends continuously around said casing.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A pod for use in a hot beverage production machine, comprising:
 two water-permeable filter elements mutually coupled along a periphery of said filter elements, said water-permeable filter elements being adapted to form a casing containing extractable substances by forced percolation; and   a sealing flange,   wherein said periphery of said filter elements is sealed and is embedded by said sealing flange, said sealing flange continuously extending around said casing.   
     
     
         13 . The pod according to claim  1 , wherein said sealing flange is adapted to provide structural stiffness to said pod to substantially prevent flexing of said water-permeable filter elements. 
     
     
         14 . The pod according to claim  1 , wherein said sealing flange comprises an upper ring and a lower ring joined together, said upper ring and lower ring having an inner radius equal to or greater than the radius of said casing and an outer radius greater than the radius of said periphery of said water-permeable filter elements, and said periphery being interposed between said upper ring and lower ring. 
     
     
         15 . The pod according to claim  1 , further comprising two shells joined, respectively, to said upper ring and to said lower ring, said two shells forming a chamber substantially hermetically enclosing said casing, and wherein said shells comprise, along a peripheral edge of each said two shells, a joint with, respectively, the upper ring and the lower ring, said joint being adapted to be separated by mechanical action exerted from the exterior of the pod. 
     
     
         16 . The pod according to claim  1 , further comprising two covers joined, respectively, to said upper ring and to said lower ring, said two covers forming a chamber hermetically enclosing said casing, and wherein said covers comprise a base having a separable portion adapted to be separated from said base by mechanical action exerted from the exterior of the pod. 
     
     
         17 . The pod according to claim  4 , wherein said chamber hermetically encloses said casing of the pod, said chamber further containing an inert atmosphere. 
     
     
         18 . The pod according to claim  1 , further comprising two radial patterns joined, respectively, to said upper ring and to said lower ring, said radial patterns surrounding said casing, said radial patterns comprising a base and a plurality of ribs, said ribs departing from the base, substantially following the upper and lower surfaces of the casing of the pod, said ribs being connected to at least one of the upper ring or the lower ring. 
     
     
         19 . The pod according to claim  1 , wherein at least one of said sealing flange, shells, covers or radial patterns is made of biodegradable materials. 
     
     
         20 . A method for producing a pod comprising two water-permeable filter elements mutually coupled along a periphery of said filter elements, said water-permeable filter elements being adapted to form a casing containing extractable substances by forced percolation, the method comprising:
 disposing said water-permeable filter elements over a lower ring so that the axis of the casing substantially coincides with the axis of the lower ring and with the central axis of the pod, said periphery being superimposed and resting on the lower ring;   disposing an upper ring so that the axis thereof substantially coincides with the axis of the lower ring and with the central axis of the pod, said upper ring resting on the upper surface of the periphery of the water-permeable filter elements;   applying a pressure on at least one of the upper surface of the upper ring or the lower surface of the lower ring;   joining together the upper ring and the lower ring so as to form a sealing flange sealing and embedding said periphery, said sealing flange continuously extending around said casing;   allowing the material of said sealing flange to substantially stabilize until it reaches a condition adapted to maintain joined together the upper ring, lower ring and periphery; and   removing the pressure from the at least one of the upper ring and the lower ring.   
     
     
         21 . A method for producing a pod comprising two water-permeable filter elements mutually coupled along a periphery of said filter elements, said water-permeable filter elements being adapted to form a casing containing extractable substances by forced percolation, the method comprising:
 disposing said water-permeable filter elements inside a mold cavity, said mold cavity comprising a first cavity having a shape complementary to said casing and a second injection cavity having a shape complementary to a sealing flange, so that the casing is substantially coaxial to the first cavity and the periphery is positioned into said second injection cavity;   injecting a material, into said second injection cavity, to form a sealing flange of the pod that seals and embeds said periphery, said sealing flange continuously extending around said casing;   allowing the material of said sealing flange to substantially stabilize until it reaches a condition adapted to maintain structural stiffness of the sealing flange; and   removing the pod from the mold cavity.