Beverage Capsule With Moldable Filter
A beverage capsule is provided having a body defining an opening. A filter is disposed in the opening and secured to the body. The filter is moldable to define an ingredients chamber. The filter is formed of a moldable nonwoven fabric comprising fibers that are undrawn or partially drawn prior to molding. Ingredients are disposed in the ingredients chamber for preparing a desired beverage and a cover is disposed over the opening for sealing the interior space.
1 . A beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine, the beverage capsule comprising:
a body defining an opening;
a filter disposed in said opening and secured to said body, said filter being molded to define an ingredients chamber, said filter being formed of a moldable nonwoven fabric comprising fibers that are undrawn or partially drawn prior to molding;
ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a desired beverage;
a cover disposed over said opening.
2 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fibers are mechanically bonded.
3 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fibers are hydroentangled.
4 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fibers include multi-component fibers.
5 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said multi-component fibers comprise a first material and a second material wherein said first material has a higher melt temperature than said second material.
6 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 4 wherein said multi-component fibers comprise a first material and a second material wherein said first material has a higher tensile strength than said second material.
7 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said multi-component fibers are arranged in an islands-in-the-sea configuration.
8 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said multi-component fibers comprise a first material forming at least one island and a second material forming a sea, wherein said first material has a higher melt temperature than said second material.
9 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first material comprises polyester.
10 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said second material comprises PE.
11 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said first material comprises at least 70% of each multi-component fiber.
12 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said nonwoven fabric has a basis weight in the range of 40 to 150 gsm.
13 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said nonwoven fabric has a basis weight in the range of 60 to 120 gsm.
14 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said body includes a flange that surrounds said opening and wherein said filter includes a gasket portion that is secured to said flange, said gasket portion having a plurality of channels.
15 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said cover is secured to said gasket portion of said filter over said flange.
16 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 14 , wherein material from said flange and said cover is disposed within said channels of said gasket portion.
17 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body includes a sidewall and an end wall to define an interior space for containing said ingredients in said ingredients chamber.
18 . A beverage capsule for use in a beverage preparing machine, the beverage capsule comprising:
a body defining an opening;
a filter disposed in said opening and secured to said body, said filter being molded to define an ingredients chamber, said filter being formed of a moldable nonwoven fabric comprising multi-component fibers that are undrawn or partially drawn prior to molding, wherein said multi-component fibers are formed of materials including polyester;
ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a desired beverage; and
a cover disposed over said opening.
19 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said multi-component fibers comprise a first material forming at least one island and a second material forming a sea, wherein said first material comprises polyester.
20 . A beverage capsule as claimed in claim 19 wherein said second material comprises PE.