The present invention falls within the field of compostable infusion pods. More specifically, it relates to a compostable pod made due to the insertion of a related support structure.

There are compostable pods on the market, formed by two mutually thermo-sealed layers, between which the coffee or other infusion product is positioned.

However, such pods have the drawback of being little resistant to perforation and/or tears.

For this reason, there is a need to use rather thick layers, with obvious subsequent waste of material.

Therefore, the need remains to obtain compostable infusion pods that are resistant to tears and to accidental perforation.

The object of the present invention therefore is to obviate the above- mentioned drawbacks and in particular, to make a compostable infusion pod using materials that can be adapted and used to make compostable pods by means of standard machinery already on the market.

It is another object of the present invention to make a compostable pod and the related structure thereof, which allows an easy introduction of the infusion material and a subsequent storage.

It is a further object of the invention to make a compostable infusion pod that is resistant to tears and to accidental perforations during the steps of making and/or storing and transport.

These and other objects are achieved by a compostable pod and the related structure thereof, according to appended claims 1 and 4; other detail features of the structural element are indicated in the dependent claims.

Thus, the subject matter of the present invention is a compostable structural element for a compostable infusion pod, comprising an annular shaped main body and a series of alveoli with inlet facing the inside of the main body.

Such structural element therefore advantageously has a reduced volume and gives the pod containing it a consistency required for the use thereof in infusion dispensing machines without compromising the compostability thereof.

According to the invention, first alveoli and/or second alveoli may be provided, which have an opening on a side parallel to the main plane of extension of the main body; for example, such first alveoli may be open toward a first direction, while the second alveoli may be open toward a second direction.

This advantageously allows a uniform distribution of the infusion material in the pod, so as to promote the infusion of all the ingredients when the beverage is dispensed.

According to the invention here, such first alveoli and second alveoli may be arranged in alternating manner along the main body.

A further subject matter of the invention is a compostable infusion pod, characterised in that it comprises such structural element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention are more apparent from the following description concerning a preferred, but non limiting, example embodiment of the compostable pod and of the related structure according to the present invention, and from accompanying figure 1 showing a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the structure for the compostable infusion pod according to the invention, when resting on a horizontal plane.

This structure (hereinafter also called insert or ring) is housed in the half shell of a film, which is possibly compostable, and then is filled with the approximate dose of tea for each mixture used. At this point, the filled half shell does not require any pressing. After filling with the established quantity, the filled half-shell is coupled to the other half-shell obtained by drawing another portion of film and finally they are sealed to each other.

In detail in reference to figure 1 , in a preferred embodiment, the insert or ring, indicated generically with reference numeral 10, may have a cellular structure facing inward so as to reduce the volume 1 1 of the ring itself to the greatest extent possible. Indeed, the series of alveoli 1 , 2 leaves space for the infusion material to move and rest freely in the half-shell of the pod. This type of structure given by the ring 10 and by the alveoli 1 , 2 thereof at the same time keeps a sufficient rigidity to support the pod without it breaking or coming undone during use in the infusion machine.

In greater detail, the alveoli 1 , 2 preferably made on the inner surface of the ring, are open at the bottom and/or at the top, considering the ring resting on a horizontal plane.

In other words: there may be first alveoli 1 facing toward the inside of the ring 10 and open at the bottom, and/or second alveoli 2, always facing the inside of the ring 10, and open at the top.

This advantageously allows having more efficient dispensing of the beverage by having an increased infusion surface and an improved structure from a mechanical viewpoint.

Additionally, the structure of the ring is advantageous for the manufacturing thereof, it being capable of being obtained from a male/female mould.

The inner processing thereof, with access to the alveoli perpendicular to the dispensing flow of the infused beverage, allows the ring not to deform during this last step, thus ensuring an optimal structural stability during the whole process.

Again, the alveoli 1 , 2 of the ring 10 may be open alternatively at the top and at the bottom so as to use the least material possible, while maintaining the above-described advantages.

These solutions allow introducing quantities of infusion material both for single doses (from 1.2 to 2 g), for example for dispensing about 120 ml of tea, and for dual-dose pods, for example for dispensing about 240 ml of tea, and therefore housing up to 4.5 g of ground product in the ring.

Thus, the advantages of the embodiment of a compostable infusion pod according to the present invention have been observed.

The features of the compostable infusion pod and of the related structure, which are the subject matter of the present invention, are apparent from the description provided, as are the resulting advantages.

Finally, it is apparent that several other variants may be made to the pod and to the structure at hand without departing from the inherent principles of novelty of the inventive idea, as is apparent that any materials, shapes and sizes of the details illustrated may be used as needed in the practical actuation of the invention, and they may be replaced with other equivalent ones.