WO2016008823A1

WO2016008823A1 - Capsule for preparing beverages and the like and corresponding dispensing device

Info

Publication number: WO2016008823A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/065878
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serge Joseph BUENO
Original assignee: SPARKLING DRINK SYSTEMS INNOVATION CENTER INTERNATIONAL Sas (SDS-IC INTERNATIONAL)
Current assignee: SPARKLING DRINK SYSTEMS INNOVATION CENTER INTERNATIONAL Sas (SDS-IC INTERNATIONAL)
Priority date: 2014-07-16
Filing date: 2015-07-10
Publication date: 2016-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-16

Abstract

Capsule (10) for preparing beverages and the like, comprising a hollow body (20) containing substances (40) to be dispensed into water, the particularity of which consists of the fact of comprising a deformable cover (25), fixed at an upper opening of said body (20), and an opening element (30), placed at a lower opening of the body (20), the cover (25) and the opening element (30) being connected together by a stem (35) suitable for transferring to the opening element (30) a movement arising from the deformation of the cover (25).

Description

CAPSULE FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES AND THE LIKE AND CORRESPONDING DISPENSING DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

The object of the present invention is a capsule containing food substances and a corresponding dispensing device that are particularly, but not exclusive, useful and practical for preparing beverages and the like. Today, for preparing beverages, particularly for domestic consumption, food substances are widely used, typically in the form of powder or liquid, that are suitably dosed in water contained inside a bottle or another type of container, which water is then agitated in the respective container in order to mix and/or to dissolve the food substances poured therein.

Such food powders or liquids can consist, for example, of aromatic substances in general, concentrates, lyophilised substances, extracts obtained from vegetables, vitamins and/or mineral salts. The operation of preparing a beverage by mixing food substances in the water involves the need for the consumer to dose a correct quantity of food powder or liquid in the water container, with the drawbacks that the dosage cannot be carried out correctly because the consumer is obliged to pour the food substances, estimating the necessary dose thereof empirically, or that the dosed food substances can exit from the container whilst they are being poured into the container.

Further, the above operation ensures neither optimum mixing of the food substances poured into the water nor complete dissolving of the food substances if they are in powder because of the excessive variability of the process of preparing a beverage, which is totally at the discretion of the consumer, who decides how much food powder or liquid to pour into the water, how and for how long to agitate and/or mix the liquid resulting from the combination of water and food substances, etc. These drawbacks can cause, for example, an uneven distribution of the food substances, and thus of the corresponding aromas, in which case part of the beverage has great flavour whereas another part of the beverage has little flavour, or can lead to the presence of powders that are not dissolved on the bottom of the beverage, with consequent beverage annoyance during the consumption of the beverage.

Further drawbacks arise at the moment in which it is desired to prepare a fizzy drink by combining or mixing not only water and food substances, as disclosed above, but also carbon dioxide. In fact, for preparing fizzy beverages, using carbon dioxide (C02) is known to be added to the water contained in a bottle or in another type of container in order to obtain the desired fizziness, in combination with the food substances.

Generally, the carbon dioxide, to be added to the water to obtain the carbonation thereof, is stored in gas form in high-pressure cylinders to be connected to complex carbonating machines.

Using such carbon-dioxide cylinders has, however, some drawbacks, as already mentioned.

First of all, the carbon dioxide cylinders, owing to the high pressure of the gas contained therein, force the consumer to face serious problems in relation to the safety thereof, inasmuch as damage, even minimal damage, to a cylinder can cause a violent escape of gas or even the explosion of the cylinder itself.

Secondly, these carbon dioxide cylinders must necessarily be stored in the home of the consumer: this operation is certainly not to be undervalued if we consider the dimensions of a single cylinder of carbon dioxide and the amount of cylinders that are necessary for ensuring the normal operation of a carbonating machine.

Thirdly, the empty cylinders have to be returned to the distribution point from which they were purchased in order to ensure correct reuse or disposal thereof. Further, the known solutions to make carbonation force the consumer to carbonate the water first, and then mix this carbonated water with the food substances only subsequently and in another receptacle. The main task of the present invention is to overcome the limits of the prior art indicated above, by devising a capsule for preparing beverages and a corresponding dispensing device that eliminate the obligation on the consumer to have to dose the correct quantity of food substances and/or of substances that are capable of providing fizziness, regardless of whether they are in powder or liquid form, to be poured into the water container, without being able to repeat each time the same dosage.

Within the ambit of this task, an object of this invention is to conceive a capsule for preparing beverages and a corresponding dispensing device that automatically achieve optimum mixing of food substances and/or of the carbonating substances within the water, and which enables such substances to be dissolved completely if they are in powder form, without leaving undissolved residues, with advantages in terms of quality and taste.

Another object of the present invention is to conceive a capsule for preparing beverages and a corresponding dispensing device that enable the consumer to dose the food substances and/or carbonating substances within the water container, without dirtying the surrounding environment.

A further object of the invention is to conceive a capsule for preparing beverages and a corresponding dispensing device that enable the consumer not to have to resort to the use of carbon-dioxide cylinders to carbonate the beverage, consequently increasing the level of safety of the process of preparing the beverage and avoiding for the consumer problems arising from the storage, the conveying or the return of such cylinders of C0₂.

Another object of the present invention is to conceive a capsule for preparing beverages and a corresponding dispensing device that prevent the consumer intervening in the dosing and dispensing of the food substances and/or carbonating substances, once this dispensing has started.

A further object of the invention is to conceive a capsule for preparing beverages that facilitates the placing inside thereof of food substances and/or carbonating substances.

Also, an object of the present invention is that of devising a capsule for preparing beverages and a corresponding dispensing device that enables a beverage to be prepared without requiring the use of electricity.

Not the least object of the present invention is that of making a capsule for preparing beverages and a corresponding dispensing device that are highly reliable, relatively simple to make and of moderate cost. This task, as well as these and other objects that will become clearer below are achieved by a capsule for preparing beverages and the like, comprising a hollow body containing substances to be dispensed into water, characterised in that it comprises a deformable cover, fixed at an upper opening of said body, and an opening element, placed at a lower opening of said body, said cover and said opening element being connected together by a stem suitable for transferring to said opening element a movement deriving from the deformation of said cover.

The prefixed task and objects are also achieved by a device for preparing beverages and the like, comprising a body suitable for housing a capsule according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an opening mechanism suitable for freeing said substances contained within said capsule, said opening mechanism comprising a pressure member.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be clearer from the description of some embodiments that are preferred, but not exclusive, of the capsule for preparing beverages and of the corresponding dispensing device according to the invention, that are illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, in the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 illustrates, in an exploded perspective view, an embodiment of a device for dispensing food substances and/or carbonating substances contained in a capsule for preparing beverages and the like, according to the present invention;

figure 2 illustrates, in a section view, a detail of an embodiment of a capsule for preparing beverages and the like, according to the present invention;

figures 3a and 3b illustrate, in a section view, the same embodiment as in figure 1 of a dispensing device of the food substances and/or carbonating substances contained in a capsule for preparing beverages and the like, according to the present invention;

figure 4 illustrates, in a prospective section view, another embodiment of a dispensing device for dispensing food substances and/or carbonating substances contained in a capsule for preparing beverages and the like, according to the present invention. With reference to the mentioned figures, the capsule for preparing beverages and the like according to the invention, indicated overall with the reference number 10, substantially comprises a body 20, a cover 25 placed in the upper part of the body 20, an opening element 30 positioned in the lower part of the body 20, and a stem 35 that connects the cover 25 to the opening element 30.

The body 20 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, or a hollow frustoconical shape, and inside the cavity 21 food substances 40 are located, in the form of powder or liquid, that will be subsequently dispensed to the water contained in a bottle or in another type of container in order to prepare a beverage.

It should be noted that in one embodiment of the capsule 10, inside the cavity 21 of the body 20 in addition to the food substances 40, also substances can be placed that are able to give fizziness to the beverage that it is intended to prepare, i.e. carbonating substances, such as, for example, carbon dioxide. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, further on in this description, reference will be made only to the food substances 40.

The filling of the capsule 10, or of the cavity 21 of the body 20, with the food substances 40 to be dispensed into water, will be disclosed in detail further on in the description.

The body 20 has in its upper part an opening, this upper opening having a diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of the body 20. At the upper opening, the cover 25 is fixed, which also has a diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of the body 20, so that the cover 25 can completely cover the upper opening of the body 20 and prevent the escape of the food substances 40 present in the capsule 10, or in the cavity 21 of the body 20, and/or the entry of outside elements that could compromise the quality and the organoleptic properties of the food substances 40, such as, for example, air.

This cover 25 is made, in the form and in the material used, in such a manner as to be sufficiently flexible and to enable a suitable member, as a result of this flexibility, to cause an irreversible deformation of the cover 25 downwards, or to the cavity 21 of the body 20, this member exerting for this purpose a pressure force on the upper and outer surface of the cover 25.

The body 20 further has in its lower part an opening, this lower opening having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the body 20. At this lower opening, the opening element 30 is located, that has a diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of the lower opening of the body 20, so that the opening element 30 can completely occlude the lower opening of the body 20 and prevent the escape of the food substances 40 present in the capsule 10, or in the cavity 21 of the body 20, and/or the entry of outer elements that could compromise the quality and the organoleptic properties of the food substances 40, such as for example air.

The body 20 further comprises wings 22 positioned at regular intervals along the internal walls of the body 20 and thus in the cavity 21. This arrangement of wings 22 is mainly suitable for supporting a guiding ring 23, the task of which is to guide the stem 35 that slides inside the guiding ring 23 and prevent the transverse or side movement of the stem 35. This stem 35 is thus enclosed inside the cavity 21 of the body 20 of the capsule 10 and connects the cover 25 to the opening element 30, one or both of which being provided with a seat 27 for stickly fixing, or more in general for housing, an end of the stem 35, this seat 27 being obtained in the centre of the cover 25 and/or in the centre of the opening element 30.

The stem 35 is stiff and thus has a fixed length; it is suitable for transferring a downward movement deriving from the irreversible deformation of the cover 25, to the opening element 30, this deformation being, as said, caused by a member that exerts a pressure force on the upper and external surface of the cover 25.

In this manner, the capsule 10 is initially closed, with the cover 25 that covers the upper opening of the body 20 and the opening element 30, connected to the cover 25 by the stem 35, which completely occludes the lower opening of the body 20, preventing in particular the escape of the food substances 40 present in the capsule 10, or in the cavity 21 of the body 20.

Following sufficient pressure force exerted by a suitable member on the surface of the cover 25, the cover 25 is deformed irreversibly downwards, this deformation pushing the stem 35 downwards and consequently the opening element 30, and causing in practice opening of the capsule 10.

The downward movement of the stem 35 and of the opening element 30 thus frees the food substances 40 present in the capsule 10, or in the cavity 21 of the body 20, thus dispensing the food substances 40 which fall by gravity to the water contained in a bottle or in another type of container located below the capsule 10, in order to prepare a beverage.

In one embodiment of the capsule 10, the guiding ring 23 can comprise teeth, or protruding elements, 24 positioned at regular intervals along the internal walls thereof and the stem 35 can comprise a recess 36 and a protrusion 37, both obtained along the external circumference of the stem 35 near the opening element 30. In a different embodiment of the capsule 10, the stem 35 can also alternatively comprise the recess 36 or the protrusion 37.

In the initial closing situation of the capsule 10, the teeth 24 of the guiding ring 23 are lodged inside the recess 36 of the stem 35, whereas the protrusion 37 of the stem 35 rests on the upper part of the teeth 24. The stem 35 is thus initially lodged on the protruding elements 24 of the guiding ring 23 through the recess 36 and the protrusion 37. In practice, these elements constitute, in combination, an impediment to the vertical movement of the stem 35 inside the body 20, in particular to the vertical downward movement of the stem 35 directed to open the capsule 10.

In this case, in order to be able to open the capsule 10, it is thus necessary to exert sufficient pressure to obtain a downward release of the stem 35, so that the recess 36 and the protrusion 37 of the stem 35 overcome the obstacle constituted by the teeth 24 of the guiding ring 23.

The need for this release of the stem 35 in the guiding ring 23 means that the capsule 10 cannot be opened with excessive ease or accidentally and that dispensing of the food substances 40 cannot be interrupted by the consumer once it has started.

It should be noted that the capsule 10 according to the invention is of disposable type, because as the deformation of the cover 25 is irreversible, once the opening element 30 has been pushed downwards by means of the stem 35, or once the capsule 10 has been opened and thus used, the opening element 30 can no longer be returned to the initial position in which it completely occludes the lower opening of the body 20.

This means that dosing of the food substances 40, dispensed to the water contained in a bottle or in another type of container, and dispensing itself occur exclusively according to preset optimum methods that depend on the flexibility and deformation of the cover 25, and cannot be controlled by the consumer once such dispensing has been started. In one preferred embodiment, the capsule 10 for preparing the beverages further comprises a seal located outside at the opening element 30, in order to ensure the hygiene and cleanliness of the opening element 30, and to maintain the quality and the organoleptic properties of the foodstuff substances 40 present in the capsule 10, or in the cavity 21 of the body 20.

Filling the capsule 10, with the food substances 40 to be dispensed into water, can be performed according to the following methods. In one embodiment, the capsule 10 can be filled from the lower opening of the body 20. In this case the cover 25 and the stem 35, in particular the centre of the cover 25 and an end of the stem 35, are fastened to one another from the start of the process of assembling the capsule 10, for example because they are made of a single plastics piece, whereas the opening element 30 occurs singly and can be applied to the free end of the stem 35, for example by interference coupling.

The upper opening of the body 20 is covered with the cover 25, to which the stem 35 is already fastened that is passed into the guiding ring 23, and food substances 40 are introduced into the cavity 21 of the body 20 through the lower opening of the body 20. Once the filling operations is completed, the opening element 30 is applied to the free end of the stem 35, so as to completely occlude lower opening of the body 20, close the capsule 10 and insulate the cavity 21 and the food substances 40 contained therein. In an alternative embodiment, the capsule 10 can be filled from the upper opening of the body 20. In this case, the opening element 30 and the stem 35, in particular the centre of the opening element 30 and an end of the stem 35, are fastened to one another from the start of the process of assembling the capsule 10, for example because they are made of a single plastics piece, whereas the cover 25 occurs singly and the free end of the stem 35 can be applied thereto, for example by interference coupling.

The lower opening of the body 20 is occluded with the opening element 30, to which the stem 35 is already fastened that is passed into the guiding ring 23, and the food substances 40 are introduced into the cavity 21 of the body 20 through the upper opening of the body 20. Once the filling operation has finished, the cover 25 is fixed to the upper opening of the body 20, at the same time applying thereto the free end of the stem 35, so as to cover the upper opening of the body 20, close the capsule 10 and insulate the cavity 21 and the food substances 40 contained therein.

The capsule 10 for preparing beverages and the like is conceived to be used by the consumer through a suitable dispensing device, which enables the capsule 10 to be opened and food substances 40 to be dispensed, in the form of powder or liquid, contained in the cavity 21 of the body 20 of the capsule 10. This dispensing device will be disclosed in detail further on in the description.

In one preferred embodiment, shown in figures 1, 3a and 3b, the dispensing device 100 of the food substances 40 contained in a capsule 10, for preparing beverages and the like, consists substantially of a seat 107 that is movable to house the capsule 10 containing the food substances 40 to be dispensed into water, said seat 107 being included in a main internally hollow body 105, and in an opening mechanism that is suitable for opening the capsule 10, i.e. to free the food substances contained in the capsule 10, said mechanism being included in a secondary body 110.

The seat 107 for housing the capsule 10 is accessible from the outside through an upper opening of the main body 105, in order to enable easy and rapid collocation or removal of the capsule 10, and it is movable longitudinally, or vertically, inside the main body 105.

The opening mechanism, included in the secondary body 110, comprises a piston 115, or a pressure member, which acts on the cover 25 of the capsule 10 and a coil spring 125 that is suitable for returning the piston 115 to the initial position and stabilising the movement of the piston 115.

In particular, the piston 115 exerts a pressure force on the surface of the cover 25, causing the irreversible downward deformation thereof, this deformation pushing downwards the stem 35 and, consequently, the opening element 30, and causing in practice the opening of the capsule 10.

The dispensing device 100 is suitable for being applied by screwing to the neck 150 of a bottle and it is accordingly provided with a threaded portion in the lower part thereof so as to enable screwing onto the neck 150 of the bottle.

In particular, the main body 105 of the dispensing device 100 is provided with a lower threaded opening 135 that enables the dispensing device 100 to be screwed to the neck 150 of a bottle, and that places this bottle neck 150, and thus the inside of the bottle, in communication with the lower part of the capsule 10, consequently enabling the passage of the food substances 40, which are freed from the capsule 10 owing to the downward movement of the opening element 30 and are dispensed by gravity into the water below, contained in the bottle.

The main body 105 and the secondary body 110 of the dispensing device 100 are connected together by a hinge 130 and together constitute, in practice, the carrying structure of the device 100.

Once the consumer has positioned a capsule 10 for preparing beverages in the seat 107 located in the main body 105 of the dispensing device 100, can be closed by lowering the secondary body 110 so that the edge thereof abuts on the edge of the main body 105. The closure of the dispensing device 100 is ensured and maintained by a locking hook 120, which, during lowering of the secondary body 110 by the consumer, slides autonomously inside a corresponding seat 112 obtained in the secondary body 110, locking itself there. This locking hook 120 prevents accidental opening of the dispensing device 100, or accidental rising of the secondary body 110.

Opening the dispensing device 100, or rising of the secondary body 110, can thus be carried out only by the consumer, who for this purpose has to press intentionally on the exposed part of the locking hook 120, unlocking it and enabling the locking hook 120 to exit the seat 112 obtained in the secondary body 110.

This dispensing device 100 is driven by the consumer, who exerts thereupon a rotation force that is suitable not only for screwing the dispensing device 100 to the neck 150 of the bottle, but is also suitable for opening the capsule 10 and thus dispensing the food substances 40 contained inside this capsule 10 into the water present in the bottle.

By placing the dispensing device 100 on the neck 150 of the bottle and screwing the dispensing device 100 thereupon, in fact, the consumer starts dispensing of the food substances 40, pushing the seat 107 upwards to house the capsule 10, the seat 107 of which rests on the edge of the neck 150 of the bottle, and thus by pressing the cover 25 of the capsule 10 against the piston 115 of the opening mechanism, arranged at the central part of the cover 25 of the capsule 10 and suitable in fact for freeing the food substances 40 contained in the capsule 10, because the piston 115 exerts a pressure force on the surface of the cover 25, causing the irreversible downward deformation thereof, this deformation pushing the stem 35 downwards and, consequently, the opening element 30, and causing in practice the opening of the capsule 10. The operation of the device 100 for preparing beverages and the like according to the invention is as follows.

Initially, a capsule 10 is located in the corresponding housing seat 107 included in the main body 105 and the dispensing device 100 is closed by manually lowering the secondary body 110, until the edge thereof abuts on the edge of the main body 105, and locking the hook 120 in the corresponding seat 112 obtained in the secondary body 110.

Subsequently, the dispensing device 100 is screwed onto the neck 150 of a bottle filled with water, thus pushing upwards the seat 107, which rests on the edge of the neck 150 of the bottle, and thus pressing the cover 25 of the capsule 10 against the piston 115 of the opening mechanism. The piston 115 exerts a pressure force on the surface of the cover 25, causing the irreversible downward deformation thereof, this deformation pushing downwards the stem 35 and consequently, the opening element 30, and causing in practice the opening of the capsule 10.

Once the capsule 10 is opened, owing to the downward movement of the opening element 30, the food substances 40 contained therein are freed and are dispensed by gravity into the water below, contained in the bottle. At the end of dispensing of the food substances 40 contained in the bottle, the device 100 is unscrewed from the neck 150 of the bottle, there now being available, inside the bottle, a beverage that is ready to be consumed, as a result of the mixing in water of food substances 40. The dispensing device 100 can naturally be reused to prepare another beverage, by replacing the used capsule 10 with a new capsule 10. In order to be able to perform this replacement, it is necessary to open the dispensing device 100, i.e. to raise manually the secondary body 110, by pressing on the exposed part of the locking hook 120, unlocking the locking hook 120 and enabling the exit thereof from the seat 112 obtained in the secondary body 110, to remove the used capsule 10 from the housing seat 107 included in the main body 105, to place a new capsule 10 in the seat 107 and finally to reclose the dispensing device 100.

In another preferred embodiment, illustrated in figure 4, the dispensing device 200 of the food substances 40 contained in a capsule 10, for preparing beverages and the like, substantially consists of a seat 212 for housing the capsule 10, containing the food substance 40 to be dispensed into water, and an opening mechanism suitable for opening the capsule 10, i.e. for freeing the food substances 40 contained in this capsule 10, both these elements being enclosed inside a internally hollow body 205 supported by a foot 235.

The seat 212 for housing the capsule 10 is accessible from the outside by a drawer 210 that is partially extractable from the body 205, in order to enable the capsule 10 to be positioned or removed rapidly, which drawer 210 defines internally the seat 212 for housing the capsule 10.

The opening mechanism, enclosed in the body 205, comprises a pressure member 220 that acts on the cover 25 of the capsule 10, a gear mechanism 225 that is suitable for guiding the movement of the pressure member 220 and a spring 230 that is suitable for returning the pressure member 220 to the initial position thereof and for stabilising the movement of the pressure member 220. In particular, the pressure member 220 exerts a pressure force on the surface of the cover 25, causing the irreversible downward deformation thereof, this deformation pushing downwards the stem 35 and, consequently, the opening element 30, and causing in practice the opening of the capsule 10.

The dispensing device 200 for preparing beverages and the like is driven by the consumer by suitable actuating means, such as, for example a button or a lever 215 located in the front part of the body 205, the lever 215 being connected directly to the opening mechanism of the capsule 10, in particular to the pressure member 220, and being downwardly movable following pressure exerted by the consumer.

By acting on the lever 215, in fact, the consumer starts dispensing of the food substances 40, lowering together with the lever 215 also the pressure member 220 of the opening mechanism of the capsule 10, arranged at the central part of the cover 25 of the capsule 10 and suitable, in fact, for freeing the food substances 40 contained in the capsule 10, inasmuch as the pressure member 220 exerts a pressure force on the surface of the cover 25, causing the irreversible downward deformation thereof, this deformation pushing downwards the stem 35 and consequently, the opening element 30, and causing in practice the opening of the capsule 10.

Once the cover 25 of the capsule 10 has been irreversibly deformed by the pressure member 220, the consumer can also release the lever 215, which is returned to the initial position by the spring 230, just like the pressure member 220. The operation of the device 200 for preparing beverages and the like according to the invention is as follows.

Initially, the drawer 210 is extracted manually from the body 205 of the dispensing device 200, a capsule 10 is located in the corresponding housing seat 212 defined in the drawer 210 and the drawer 210 is then closed by being returned manually inside the body 205 of the dispensing device 200.

Subsequently, a container filled with water is positioned under the drawer 210, or under the capsule 10 located in the seat 212, but at a distance from the capsule 10, and then the lever 215 is pushed down, pressing the pressure member 220 of the opening mechanism against the cover 25 of the capsule 10.

The pressure member 220 exerts a pressure force on the surface of the cover 25, causing the irreversible downward deformation thereof, this deformation pushing downwards the stem 35 and consequently, the opening element 30, and causing in practice the opening of the capsule 10.

Once the capsule 10 is opened, owing to the downward movement of the opening element 30, the food substances contained therein are freed and dispensed by gravity to the water underneath that is contained in the container.

At the end of the dispensing of the food substances 40 contained in the bottle, the container can be removed, there now being available a beverage that is ready to be consumed, as the result of the mixing in water of food substances 40.

The dispensing device 200 can naturally be reused to prepare another beverage, by replacing the used capsule 10 with a new capsule 10. In order to be able to carry out this replacement, it is necessary to extract manually the drawer 210 from the body 205 of the dispensing device 200, remove the used capsule 10 from the housing seat

212 defined drawer 210, place a new capsule 10 in the seat 212 and finally reclose the drawer 210, returning the drawer manually to inside the body 205 of the dispensing device 200. It has in practice been ascertained that the invention fully accomplishes the prefixed task and objects. In particular, it has been seen how the capsule 10 for preparing beverages and the corresponding dispensing device 100 and 200 thus conceived enable the qualitative limits of the prior art to be overcome, inasmuch as they enable the obligation on the consumer to be eliminated of having to dose the correct quantity of food substances 40, whether in the form of powder or liquid, to be poured into the water container, and automatically perform optimum mixing of the food substances 40 in the water, with advantages in terms of quality and taste.

Although the capsule 10 for preparing beverages and the corresponding dispensing device 100 and 200 according to the invention have been conceived in particular for preparing beverages and the like, they can nevertheless be used, more generally, for mixing powders or liquids of any type in a general liquid, if it is necessary to obtain an optimum dose and mixture.

The invention, thus conceived, may be the subject of numerous modifications and versions that are all part of the inventive concept. Further, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, and the dimensions and the contingent shapes, can be any, according to needs and the prior art.

In conclusion, the protective scope of the claims must not be limited by the illustrations or by the preferred embodiments illustrated in the description by way of example, but rather the claims must comprise all the features of patentable novelty that are found in the present invention, including all the features that would be considered to be equivalent by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Capsule (10) for preparing beverages and the like, comprising

- a hollow body (20) containing substances (40) to be dispensed into water and having an upper opening and a lower opening,

- a deformable cover (25), fixed at said upper opening of said body (20), and

- an opening element (30), distinct from said hollow body (20) and placed, in an occlusion position, at said lower opening so as to occlude completely and close said hollow body (20),

CHARACTERISED IN THAT it comprises a stem (35) connecting mutually said deformable cover (25) and said opening element (30), said stem (35) being shaped for transmitting to said opening element (30) a movement arising from the deformation of said cover (25) so as to transfer said opening element (30) from said occlusion position to an open position in which said opening element (30) is totally separated from said hollow body (20) to free said substances (40).

2. Capsule (10) for preparing beverages and the like according to claim 1, wherein said deformation of said cover (25) is irreversible.

3. Capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one between said cover (25) and said opening element (30) is provided with a seat (27) for lodging or housing an end of said stem (35), said seat (27) being obtained in the centre of said cover (25) and/or in the centre of said opening element.

4. Capsule according to any preceding claim, wherein said opening element (30) and said stem (35) are made of a single plastics piece, and said cover (25) is fixed by interference coupling to a free end of said stem (35).

5. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said cover (25) and said stem (35) are made of a single plastics piece, and said opening element (30) is fixed by interference coupling to a free end of said stem (35).

6. Capsule (10) for preparing beverages and the like according to any preceding claim, wherein said body (20) further comprises wings (22) positioned along the internal walls of said body (20), said wings (22) being suitable for supporting a guiding ring (23) for said stem (35).

7. Capsule (10) for preparing beverages and the like according to claim 6, wherein said guiding ring (23) comprises teeth (24), positioned along the internal walls of said guiding ring (23), and wherein said stem (35) comprises a recess (36) and/or a protrusion (37), which are obtained along the external circumference of said stem (35) near said opening element (30).

8. Capsule according to claim 7, wherein said recess (36) and/or said protrusion (37) and said teeth (24) are shaped for coupling mutually so as to prevent said stem (35) from making an undesired or accidental vertical opening movement and so as to permit a release opening movement when a set value is reached of a pressure force that is exerted on said cover (25), seat recess (36) and/or said protrusion (37) and said teeth (24) being further shaped for preventing repositioning of said stem (35) to the inside of said hollow body (20) so as to prevent the dispensing of said substances (40), being interrupted once it has started.

9. Capsule (10) for preparing beverages and the like according to any preceding claim, further comprising a seal placed external at the opening element (30).

10. Device (100, 200) for preparing beverages and the like, comprising a body (105, 205) suitable for housing a capsule (10) according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises an opening mechanism suitable for freeing said substances (40) contained within said capsule (10), said opening mechanism comprising a pressure member (115, 220).

11. Device according to claim 10, comprising a main body (105) that is internally hollow and provided with a seat (107) that is movable to house said capsule (10), and a secondary body (110) connected by a hinge (130) to said main body (105), said opening mechanism being housed in said secondary body (110).

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein said main body (105) comprises a threaded opening (135) suitable for enabling said body (105) to be screwed onto the neck (150) of a bottle and suitable for placing said capsule (10) in communication with the inside of said bottle.

13. Device according to claim 10, wherein said internally hollow body (205), is supported by a foot (235) and includes both a seat (212) for housing said capsule (10) and said opening mechanism, said housing seat (212) for said capsule (10) being defined in a drawer (210) that is partially extractable from said body (205) to enable said capsule (10) to be positioned or removed.

14. Device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, further comprising actuating means (215) for actuating the dispensing of said substances (40).

15. Device according to claim 14 as appended to claim 13, wherein said actuating means comprises a button or a lever (215) located in the front part of said body (205) and connected directly to said pressure member (220) to open said capsule (10).