Capsule for beverage preparation with integrally formed sealing member

Abstract

The invention relates to a capsule (10) designed for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into the capsule by means of a beverage preparation machine, the capsule (10) having a longitudinal axis (A) and comprising a cup-shaped base body (1) for holding beverage preparation ingredients, a flange-like rim (2) and sealing means (3) wherein the base body (1), the flange-like rim (2) and the sealing means (3) are made integrally from metallic material such as aluminum, as a one piece element, wherein the sealing means (3) comprises a dedicated surface (4) located on the base body (1) at the junction with the flange-like rim (2) and a projection (5) comprising at least one series of arc-shaped protrusions (5a) protruding circumferentially on the flange-like rim (2), characterized in that the dedicated surface (4) and the arc-shaped protrusions (5a) of the sealing means (3) are concentrically arranged such as to form an annular space (6) there-between for receiving at least one sealing surface (21a) of a capsule engagement member (21) of the beverage preparation machine (20).

1 . A capsule designed for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into the capsule by a beverage preparation machine,
 the capsule having a longitudinal axis and comprising a cup-shaped base body for holding beverage preparation ingredients, a flange-like rim and sealing member,   wherein the base body, the flange-like rim and the sealing member is made integrally from metallic material, as a one piece element,   wherein the sealing member comprises a dedicated surface located on the base body at the junction with the flange-like rim and a projection comprising at least one series of arc-shaped protrusions protruding circumferentially on the flange-like rim,   the dedicated surface and the arc-shaped protrusions of the sealing member are concentrically arranged such as to form an annular space there-between for receiving at least one sealing surface of a capsule engagement member of the beverage preparation machine.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the arc-shaped protrusions of one series of protrusions are arranged equidistant to the dedicated surface such as to form a circumferentially constant annular space between the dedicated surface and the arc-shaped protrusions.   
     
     
         3 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the annular space extends over a radial distance between 0.25 and 0.80 mm.   
     
     
         4 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the annular space radial distance is equal or less than the radial length of the sealing surface of a capsule engagement member.   
     
     
         5 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the dedicated surface extends over a radial distance comprised between 0.1 and 0.6 mm.   
     
     
         6 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the dedicated surface is selected in the group of a step, an inclined surface, a double step or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The capsule of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the step has a height comprised between 0.5 and 3 mm.   
     
     
         8 . The capsule of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the inclined surface is inclined vis à vis the external surface of the base body.   
     
     
         9 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a series of arc-shaped protrusions comprises at least two arc-shaped protrusions.   
     
     
         10 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein one series of arc shaped protrusions extends over a total angle comprised between 200 and 340°.   
     
     
         11 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the angular overlap between the dedicated surface and the arc-shaped protrusions equals at least 60 to 95%.   
     
     
         12 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the arc-shaped protrusions are arranged distant from the cup-shaped base body and from an outer periphery of the flange-like rim.   
     
     
         13 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the annular space between the dedicated surface and the arc-shaped protrusions is void of any protrusion.   
     
     
         14 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the arc-shaped protrusions are arranged at a radial distance of between 0.5 to 1.2 mm from the base body.   
     
     
         15 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the capsule body, the flange-like rim and the sealing member is produced by deep drawing an initially flat metal sheet.   
     
     
         16 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the capsule is made from aluminum.   
     
     
         17 . The capsule of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the capsule further comprises a closing membrane connected to the base body and/or the flange-like rim of the capsule.   
     
     
         18 . The capsule according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the closing membrane is an aluminum foil sealed to the flange-like rim.   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising a capsule designed for preparing a beverage upon injection of liquid into the capsule by a beverage preparation machine, the capsule having a longitudinal axis and comprising a cup-shaped base body for holding beverage preparation ingredients, a flange-like rim and sealing member, wherein the base body, the flange-like rim and the sealing member is made integrally from metallic material, as a one piece element, wherein the sealing member comprises a dedicated surface located on the base body at the junction with the flange-like rim and a projection comprising at least one series of arc-shaped protrusions protruding circumferentially on the flange-like rim, the dedicated surface and the arc-shaped protrusions of the sealing member are concentrically arranged such as to form an annular space there-between for receiving at least one sealing surface of a capsule engagement member of the beverage preparation machine and a beverage preparation machine designed to provide heated and/or pressurized liquid into the capsule for preparing a beverage upon interaction of the liquid with ingredients held within the capsule. 
     
     
         20 . A cup-shaped base body of a capsule for holding beverage preparation ingredients and a flange-like rim with a sealing member comprising a dedicated surface and a projection comprising at least one series of arc-shaped protrusions protruding circumferentially on the flange-like rim,
 wherein the base-body, the flange-like rim and the sealing member are made integrally from metallic material such as aluminum,   wherein the dedicated surface and the series of arc-shaped protrusions of the sealing member are concentrically arranged on a surface of the flange-like rim such as to form an annular space there-between for receiving a sealing surface of a capsule engagement member of the beverage preparation machine,   wherein the arc-shaped protrusions of the series arc-shaped protrusions are continuous protrusions with circumferentially extending gaps formed there-between.