Jar cap with vacuum relief closure

Abstract

A jar cap is formed with an orifice through its flat top surface and an adhesive coated closure tab is placed over the orifice. The closure tab has a non-adhesive portion for being grasped. The jar is closed with the cap and vacuum sealed. When the cap is to be removed, the non-adhesive portion of the closure tab is grasped and the closure tab is pulled off the orifice, allowing ambient air to enter the jar and relieve the vacuum so as to make the removal of the cap easier.

1 . A jar cap with vacuum relief closure, comprising: 
 a. a threaded jar cap having an orifice formed therethrough; and    b. a closure tab positioned on the cap to seal the orifice.    
   
   
       2 . The jar cap described in  claim 1 , wherein the closure tab is coated on a surface thereof with an adhesive in a first portion and remains uncoated in a second portion,  
   
   
       3 . The jar cap described in  claim 1 , wherein the closure tab is formed of a flexible sheet material.  
   
   
       4 . The jar cap described in  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive is an aggressive, food grade adhesive.  
   
   
       5 . The jar cap described in  claim 1 , wherein the closure tab is teardrop shaped.  
   
   
       6 . A method for relieving a vacuum in a vacuum-sealed jar, comprising the steps of: 
 a. closing a jar with a jar cap having an orifice formed therethrough;    b. covering the orifice;    c. vacuum sealing the jar;    d. uncovering the orifice to allow ambient air to enter the jar and equalize pressure; and    e. removing the jar cap.    
   
   
       7 . The method described in  claim 6 , wherein the step of covering the orifice comprises applying a closure tab to the jar cap in a position to cover the orifice.  
   
   
       8 . The method described in  claim 7 , wherein the closure tab is coated on one surface with an adhesive and the adhesive-coated surface is placed in contact with the jar cap.  
   
   
       9 . The method described in  claim 7 , wherein the step of uncovering the orifice comprises removing the closure tab from over the orifice to allow ambient air to enter the jar and equalize the pressure.  
   
   
       10 . The method described in  claim 8 , further comprising the step of reapplying the adhesive coated closure tab to cover the orifice after the pressure has been equalized.