Capsule holder or an adapter for adapting a capsule in a capsule holder in a beverage preparation machine

An adapting device for positioning a capsule into a capsule holder, the capsule being designed for delivering a food product by injection of a fluid under pressure into the capsule when the capsule and the capsule holder are inserted into a receptacle of a food preparation machine, the capsule comprising a chamber defined by capsule side walls, a top wall, and a flexible bottom wall, the chamber containing at least one ingredient to be dissolved or extracted by the injection fluid, wherein a beverage dispensing structure comprising at least one dispensing opening disposed through the flexible bottom wall, the adapting device comprising:

• a plurality of pillars extending vertically from the flexible bottom wall to an internal wall of the adapting device to hold the flexible bottom wall at a distance from the internal wall of the adapting device, and
• a pressure retaining element adapted to retain a certain predetermined dissolution or extraction pressure in the chamber for mixing of the injection fluid with the ingredient, the pressure retaining element being located adjacent the flexible bottom wall outside of the capsule, the pressure retaining element comprising at least one protrusion disposed in correspondence to the at least one dispensing opening so that the at least one protrusion is disposed into the at least one dispensing opening corresponding thereto and that the at least one protrusion restricts a cross section of the at least one dispensing opening corresponding thereto, at least at the time the injection fluid inside the chamber presses onto the flexible bottom wall and moves the flexible bottom wall towards the pressure retaining element, wherein the at least one protrusion has a radial cross-sectional shape that differs from a shape of the at least one dispensing opening corresponding thereto, and wherein the at least one protrusion has a general longitudinal profile such that a radial cross section of the at least one protrusion continually increases from apex to base.

A system comprising:

• a beverage preparation machine;
• a capsule;
• and a capsule holder,
• the capsule configured for delivering a food product by injection of a fluid under pressure into the capsule when the capsule and the capsule holder are inserted into a receptacle of the beverage preparation machine, the capsule comprising a chamber defined by capsule side walls, a top wall, and a flexible bottom wall, the chamber containing at least one ingredient to be dissolved or extracted by the injection fluid, wherein a beverage dispensing structure comprising at least one dispensing opening disposed through the flexible bottom wall, and the capsule holder comprising a pressure retaining element and a plurality of pillars extending vertically from the flexible bottom wall to an internal wall of the capsule holder to hold the flexible bottom wall at a distance from the internal wall of the capsule holder, the pressure retaining element adapted to retain a certain predetermined dissolution or extraction pressure in the chamber for mixing of the injection fluid with the ingredient, the pressure retaining element being located adjacent to and below the flexible bottom wall outside of the capsule, the pressure retaining element comprising at least one protrusion positioned in correspondence to the at least one dispensing opening so that the at least one protrusion partially fills a space defined by the at least one dispensing opening corresponding thereto and that the at least one protrusion restricts a cross section of the at least one dispensing opening corresponding thereto, at least at the time the injection fluid inside the chamber presses onto the flexible bottom wall and moves the flexible bottom wall towards the pressure retaining element, wherein the at least one protrusion has a radial cross-sectional shape that differs from a shape of the at least one dispensing opening corresponding thereto, and wherein the at least one protrusion has a general longitudinal profile such that a radial cross section of the at least one protrusion continually increases from apex to base.