Capsule for making beverages

1. A capsule for making beverages comprising at least one powdered food substance which can be extracted by passing water through it to make a beverage, comprising:

a substantially cup-shaped body which in turn comprises a lower wall and a side wall;

a lid fixed to the body at an edge of the side wall located on the opposite side to the lower wall, between the lid and the inner surface of the body there also being a chamber and between a central point of the lid and a central point of the lower wall being identified a capsule axis of extension;

a rigid or semi-rigid filter positioned in the chamber and coupled to the capsule body at a coupling portion which is substantially annular about the axis of extension and located on the side wall, said filter comprising openings to allow fluid communication through it;

characterised in that

the filter extends between a substantially annular rim located at the top of the filter and positioned close to the capsule lid, and a bottom portion located at the bottom of the filter and positioned close to the lower wall,

the coupling portion being located close to the edge of the side wall and the filter being coupled to the coupling portion substantially at the rim;

and in that

the filter substantially separates the chamber into a first compartment in which the powered food substance is contained and a second compartment,

said first compartment being delimited at least between the filter and the lid, and said second compartment being delimited between the filter, the lower wall and the portion of the side wall located between the lower wall and the coupling portion, at least part of the second compartment being positioned between the side wall and the filter and the second compartment extending along the side wall to the coupling portion and at least over most of the distance between the coupling portion and the lower wall measured parallel with the axis of extension, said openings being made at least at the part of the second compartment positioned between the filter and the side wall,

the filter is substantially cup-shaped and includes a side portion extending between the bottom portion and the rim about the axis of extension, said openings being located at least on the side portion,

the distance between the filter and the side wall at the second compartment increases proceeding towards the bottom portion, and

the side portion of the filter has the structure of superposed rings, which are annular about the axis of extension and are connected to each other, each of the rings, proceeding from the rim towards the bottom portion of the filter, delimiting a respective section of the first compartment, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of extension, having an area greater than that delimited by the next ring, the side portion, seen in radial section relative to the axis of extension, comprising, on the side facing towards the first compartment, a profile substantially formed by steps corresponding to said rings.

2. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that the filter is coupled to the coupling portion by mechanical interference.

3. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that the filter is coupled to the coupling portion by creating a sealed contact with it.

4. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that, close to the rim, the filter comprises a shoulder which is substantially annular about the axis of extension and which projects radially relative to the rest of the filter with reference to the axis of extension, and in that the coupling portion comprises a counter-shoulder which is substantially annular about the axis of extension and also projects radially, with reference to the axis of extension, relative to the portion of side wall adjacent to it on the lower wall side, said shoulder resting on the counter-shoulder and said rim being coupled to an annular region of the coupling portion located between the counter-shoulder and the edge.

5. The capsule according to claim 4 , characterised in that the filter is coupled to the coupling portion by mechanical interference and in that the coupling by mechanical interference is created between the rim of the filter and the annular region of the coupling portion.

6. The capsule according to claim 4 , characterised in that the filter is coupled to the coupling portion by creating a sealed contact with it and in that the sealed contact is created between the rim of the filter and the annular region of the coupling portion.

7. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that the bottom portion of the filter is spaced from the lower wall to allow, during use, insertion of a piercing element in the capsule, through the lower wall, without the bottom portion of the filter being damaged.

8. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that there are several of said openings located on each of the rings.

9. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that the bottom portion of the filter mainly comprises a flat disk extending in a substantially circular fashion about the axis of extension.

10. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that the filter comprises stiffening ribs.

11. The capsule according to claim 10 , characterised in that the ribs are at least located on the side portion of the filter, said ribs extending longitudinally from the rim at least to the bottom portion and substantially lying in planes passing through the axis of extension.

12. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that the lower wall can be pierced during use to allow the beverage to come out of the capsule, and also being characterised in that, during use, a piercing element can be inserted in the second compartment, without damaging the filter, following penetration through the lower wall.

13. The capsule according to claim 1 , characterised in that the lower wall can be pierced during use to allow the beverage to come out of the capsule, and also being characterised in that, during use, a piercing element can be inserted in the second compartment, without damaging the filter, following penetration through the lower wall.

14. A capsule for making beverages comprising at least one powdered food substance which can be extracted by passing water through it to make a beverage, comprising:

a substantially cup-shaped body which in turn comprises a lower wall and a side wall;

a lid fixed to the body at an edge of the side wall located on the opposite side to the lower wall, between the lid and the inner surface of the body there also being a chamber and between a central point of the lid and a central point of the lower wall being identified a capsule axis of extension;

a rigid or semi-rigid filter positioned in the chamber and coupled to the capsule body at a coupling portion which is substantially annular about the axis of extension and located on the side wall, said filter comprising openings to allow fluid communication through it;

characterised in that

the filter extends between a substantially annular rim located at the top of the filter and positioned close to the capsule lid, and a bottom portion located at the bottom of the filter and positioned close to the lower wall,

the coupling portion being located close to the edge of the side wall and the filter being coupled to the coupling portion substantially at the rim;

and in that

the filter substantially separates the chamber into a first compartment in which the powered food substance is contained and a second compartment,

said first compartment being delimited at least between the filter and the lid, and said second compartment being delimited between the filter, the lower wall and the portion of the side wall located between the lower wall and the coupling portion, at least part of the second compartment being positioned between the side wall and the filter and the second compartment extending along the side wall at least over most of the distance between the coupling portion and the lower wall measured parallel with the axis of extension, said openings being made at least at the part of the second compartment positioned between the filter and the side wall,

characterised in that the filter is substantially cup-shaped and comprises a side portion extending between the bottom portion and the rim about the axis of extension, said openings being located at least on the side portion, and

characterised in that the distance between the filter and the side wall at the second compartment increases proceeding towards the bottom portion and in that the side portion of the filter has the structure of superposed rings, which are annular about the axis of extension and are connected to each other, each of the rings, proceeding from the rim towards the bottom portion of the filter, delimiting a respective section of the first compartment, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of extension, having an area greater than that delimited by the next ring, the side portion, seen in radial section relative to the axis of extension, comprising, on the side facing towards the first compartment, a profile substantially formed by steps corresponding to said rings.

15. The capsule according to claim 14 , characterised in that there are several of said openings located on each of the rings.

16. The capsule according to claim 14 , characterised in that the lower wall can be pierced during use to allow the beverage to come out of the capsule, and also being characterised in that, during use, a piercing element can be inserted in the second compartment, without damaging the filter, following penetration through the lower wall.

17. A capsule for making beverages comprising at least one powdered food substance which can be extracted by passing water through it to make a beverage, comprising:

a substantially cup-shaped body which in turn comprises a lower wall and a side wall;

a lid fixed to the body at an edge of the side wall located on the opposite side to the lower wall, between the lid and the inner surface of the body there also being a chamber and between a central point of the lid and a central point of the lower wall being identified a capsule axis of extension;

a rigid or semi-rigid filter positioned in the chamber and coupled to the capsule body at a coupling portion which is substantially annular about the axis of extension and located on the side wall, said filter comprising openings to allow fluid communication through it;

characterised in that

the filter extends between a substantially annular rim located at the top of the filter and positioned close to the capsule lid, and a bottom portion located at the bottom of the filter and positioned close to the lower wall,

the coupling portion being located close to the edge of the side wall and the filter being coupled to the coupling portion substantially at the rim;

and in that

the filter substantially separates the chamber into a first compartment in which the powered food substance is contained and a second compartment,

said first compartment being delimited at least between the filter and the lid, and said second compartment being delimited between the filter, the lower wall and the portion of the side wall located between the lower wall and the coupling portion, at least part of the second compartment being positioned between the side wall and the filter and the second compartment extending along the side wall at least over most of the distance between the coupling portion and the lower wall measured parallel with the axis of extension, said openings being made at least at the part of the second compartment positioned between the filter and the side wall,

close to the rim, the filter comprises a shoulder which is substantially annular about the axis of extension and which projects radially relative to the rest of the filter with reference to the axis of extension, and in that the coupling portion comprises a counter-shoulder which is substantially annular about the axis of extension and also projects radially, with reference to the axis of extension, relative to the portion of side wall adjacent to it on the lower wall side, said shoulder resting on the counter-shoulder and said rim being coupled to an annular region of the coupling portion located between the counter-shoulder and the edge,

the filter is substantially cup-shaped and comprises a side portion extending between the bottom portion and the rim about the axis of extension, said openings being located at least on the side portion, and

the distance between the filter and the side wall at the second compartment increases proceeding towards the bottom portion and in that the side portion of the filter has the structure of superposed rings, which are annular about the axis of extension and are connected to each other, each of the rings, proceeding from the rim towards the bottom portion of the filter, delimiting a respective section of the first compartment, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of extension, having an area greater than that delimited by the next ring, the side portion, seen in radial section relative to the axis of extension, comprising, on the side facing towards the first compartment, a profile substantially formed by steps corresponding to said rings.

18. The capsule according to claim 17 , characterised in that there are several of said openings located on each of the rings.

19. The capsule according to claim 17 , characterised in that the lower wall can be pierced during use to allow the beverage to come out of the capsule, and also being characterised in that, during use, a piercing element can be inserted in the second compartment, without damaging the filter, following penetration through the lower wall.