Reclosable lid for a vacuum food container and having a vacuum release button

Abstract

A sheet metal lid has a rim portion with a resilient sealant for releasably coupling the lid to a glass or metal container enclosing a vacuum food product. The lid has a center vacuum release vent button with a top wall having a thinner top edge portion forming a laterally outwardly projecting arcuate lip portion. The arcuate lip portion overlies an arcuate score line at the bottom of the button and formed within the inner surface of the lid. A sealant material is bonded to the inner surface of the button and has an outer flange portion overlying the score line. The vent button pops upwardly above the rim after the vacuum is released, and the flange portion resents to cover the score line and protect the food product. A dimple is formed in the top edge portion to indicate where to press for releasing the vacuum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thin sheet metal lid having a peripheral rim portion with a bonded sealant material and adapted to be releasably secured to a container receiving a vacuum enclosed food product, the lid comprising
 a portion of the sheet metal lid projecting upwardly and forming a vent button having a sheet metal thickness less than the sheet metal thickness of a lid portion extending around the button,   the lid having an arcuate score line extending partially into the sheet metal lid adjacent a bottom portion of the button,   a top edge portion of the button projecting laterally outwardly and forming an arcuate lip portion overlying the score line,   a top portion of the button sloping upwardly to the top edge portion of the button,   a resilient sealant material bonded to an inner surface of the button and having a flange portion of the sealant material projecting laterally outwardly onto an inner surface of the lid and overlapping the score line, and   the projecting flange portion of the sealant material effective to separate from the inner surface of the lid in response to depressing the top edge portion of the button for releasing vacuum from the container.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the vent button is filled with the sealant material on the lid having sealant material pre-bonded to the rim portion of the lid. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A lid as defined in  claim 1  wherein the top edge portion of the button has an upwardly projecting dimple to indicate where the button should be depressed to release the vacuum. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein the arcuate score line extends into the sheet metal lid with a depth of the score line progressively reducing from under a center portion of the arcuate lip portion to opposite ends of the lip portion. 
     
     
         11 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein the top edge portion of the button has an upwardly projecting dimple to indicate where the button should be depressed to release the vacuum. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of adding a vacuum release button to a thin sheet metal lid having a peripheral rim portion with a bonded sealant material with the lid adapted to be releasably secured to the end portion of a container receiving a vacuum enclosed food product, the method comprising the steps of
 pressing a portion of the lid to form an upwardly projecting vent button having a sheet metal thickness less than the sheet metal thickness of a lid portion extending around the button,   pressing an arcuate score line partially into the sheet metal lid adjacent a bottom portion of the button, and   pressing a top edge portion of the button to form an arcuate lip portion projecting laterally outwardly over the score line from the top edge portion of the button.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 13  wherein the arcuate score line is pressed into the sheet metal lid with a depth of the score line progressively reducing from under a center portion of the arcuate lip portion to opposite ends of the lip portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 13  wherein a sealant material is bonded to the inner surface of the vent button after the sealant material is bonded to the rim portion of the lid. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 13  wherein the vent button is formed with a top wall portion sloping upwardly to the top edge portion of the button. 
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 13  wherein the step of deforming a portion of the lid to form the vent button comprises forming a rounded dome-shape center portion of the lid. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 13  and including the step of forming an upwardly projecting dimple within the top edge portion of the button to indicate where depressing the button releases the vacuum. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A thin sheet metal lid having a peripheral rim portion with a bonded sealant material and adapted to be releasably secured to a container receiving a vacuum enclosed food product, the lid comprising
 a portion of the sheet metal lid projecting upwardly and forming a vent button having a sheet metal thickness less than the sheet metal thickness of a lid portion extending around the button,   the lid having an arcuate score line extending partially into the sheet metal lid adjacent a bottom portion of the button, and   the button having a top wall portion sloping upwardly to a top edge portion projecting laterally outwardly and forming an arcuate lip portion overlying the score line.   
     
     
         22 . A lid as defined in  claim 21  wherein the top edge portion of the button has a sheet metal thickness less than the sheet metal thickness of the adjacent top portion of the button.