Venting Closure

Abstract

A closure having several plug seals extending from a lower surface of the top panel of the closure is provided. The outer surface of the first plug interfaces against the inner surface of the container inlet, the bottom surface of the second plug interfaces against the top surface of the container inlet, and the inner surface of the third plug interfaces against the outer surface of the container inlet. The bottom of the closure includes an improved design for a J-band in which the J-band has a width that increases as the J-band extends from the tamper band.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A closure centered about a vertical axis, the closure comprising:
 a generally circular top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery;   a skirt extending generally perpendicularly downward from the outer periphery of the top panel;   a thread formed about an inner surface of the skirt; and   a generally annular first plug extending downwards from the lower surface of the top panel, the first plug being located radially inwards relative to the outer periphery of the top panel;   a generally annular second plug extending downwards from the lower surface of the top panel, the second plug being located radially between the first plug and the outer periphery of the top panel, the first plug extending downward further than the second plug; and   a generally annular third plug extending downwards from the lower surface of the top panel, the third plug being located radially between the second plug and the outer periphery of the top panel, the third plug extending further than the second plug and less than the first plug.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , the closure being configured to couple with a container inlet having an inner surface, a top surface and an outer surface, the first plug being configured to interface with the inner surface of the container inlet, the second plug being configured to interface with the top surface of the container inlet, and the third plug being configured to interface with the outer surface of the container inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , the first plug being configured to interface with the inner surface of the container inlet by an outer surface of the first plug interfacing against the inner surface of the container inlet when the closure is coupled to the container inlet, the second plug being configured to interface with the top surface of the container inlet by a bottom surface of the second plug interfacing against the top surface of the container inlet when the closure is coupled to the container inlet, and the third plug being configured to interface with the outer surface of the container inlet by an inner surface of the third plug interfacing against the outer surface of the container inlet when the closure is coupled to the container inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 2 , the second plug being configured to interface with the top surface of the container inlet by a bottom surface of the second plug interfacing against the top surface of the container inlet when the closure is coupled to the container inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 2 , the third plug being configured to interface with the outer surface of the container inlet by an inner surface of the third plug interfacing against the outer surface of the container inlet when the closure is coupled to the container inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 2 , the first plug being configured to interface with the inner surface of the container inlet by an outer surface of the first plug interfacing against the inner surface of the container inlet when the closure is coupled to the container inlet. 
     
     
         7 . A method for providing a closure for a container comprising:
 providing a closure configured to seal a container, the closure comprising:
 a generally circular top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery; 
 a skirt extending generally perpendicularly downward from the outer periphery of the top panel; 
 a thread formed about an inner surface of the skirt; and 
 a generally annular first plug extending downwards from the lower surface of the top panel, the first plug being located radially inwards relative to the outer periphery of the top panel; and 
 a generally annular second plug extending downwards from the lower surface of the top panel, the second plug being located radially between the first plug and the outer periphery of the top panel, the first plug extending downward further than the second plug. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the second plug including a bottom surface configured to interface with a top surface of an inlet of the container when the closure is coupled to the container inlet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , the closure further comprising a generally annular third plug extending downwards from the lower surface of the top panel, the third plug being located radially between the second plug and the outer periphery of the top panel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the third plug extending further than the second plug and less than the first plug. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , the second plug including a bottom surface configured to interface with a top surface of a container inlet when the closure is tightly coupled to the container inlet, and the third plug including an inner surface configured to interface with an outer surface of the container inlet when the closure is coupled to the container inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the first plug including an outer surface configured to interface with the inner surface of the container inlet when the closure is coupled to the container inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , the closure further comprising:
 an internal chamber in fluid communication with contents of the container; and   a first chamber fluidly sealed from the internal chamber by the interface between the first plug and the container inlet.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the closure further comprising:
 a second chamber fluidly sealed from the first chamber by the interface between the second plug and the container inlet.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the second chamber being fluidly sealed from an exterior of the container by the interface between the third plug and the container inlet. 
     
     
         16 . A closure comprising:
 an end wall including an outer peripheral edge;   a sidewall extending downward and away from the outer peripheral edge of the end wall, the sidewall containing an inner surface;   a container engagement structure extending radially inward from the inner surface of the sidewall;   frangible connections that provide a visual indication, when broken, that the closure has been opened; and   a tamper band that decouples from the sidewall after the frangible connections are broken, the tamper band comprising a J-band that extends upwardly and radially inwardly from the tamper band, the J-band comprising
 a lower end that extends from the tamper band; 
 an end that is opposite the attachment point and having a width that is wider than a width at a middle of the J-band. 
   
     
     
         17 . The closure of  16 , the J-band including drain hole apertures positioned in the J-band at the intersection between the J-band and the tamper band. 
     
     
         18 . The closure of  16 , the J-band including pleats that protrude from the J-band. 
     
     
         19 . The closure of  18 , wherein the pleats protrude from an interior surface of the J-band generally upwards and radially outwards from the axis of the closure. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  18 , wherein the pleats angularly protrude from an interior surface of the J-band generally upwards and radially outwards from the axis of the closure, the pleats having an interior cavity along the exterior surface of the J-band.