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 second and third plugs have thinner and thicker arcs, the thinner arcs being configured to more easily relieve internal pressure from the container. 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; 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, the second plug including an arc with a thinner width and an arc with a thicker width.   
     
     
         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 and the second plug being configured to interface with the top surface of the container inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , 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, the third plug extending further than the second plug and the first plug extending further than the third plug, the third plug including an arc with a thinner width and an arc with a thicker width. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , the closure further comprising an internal rib extending radially inward from the first plug to the top panel. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , the arc with the thinner width being referred to as a thinner arc and the arc with the thicker width being referred to as a thicker arc, the second plug and the third plug each comprising three thinner arcs and three thicker arcs. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 4 , the arc with the thinner width being referred to as a thinner arc and the arc with the thicker width being referred to as a thicker arc, the second plug and the third plug each having multiple thinner arcs and multiple thinner arcs. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 6 , the thinner arcs of the second plug and the thinner arcs of the third plug being generally aligned with respect to each other along radii of the center vertical axis. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 2 , the closure further comprising at least two internal ribs extending radially inward from the first plug to the top panel, the arc with the thinner width being referred to as a thinner arc and the arc with the thicker width being referred to as a thicker arc, and the second plug and the third plug each having multiple thinner arcs and multiple thicker arcs. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 8 , the thinner arcs of the second plug comprising a first thinner arc and a second thinner arc, a center of the first thinner arc having a shorter smallest circumferential distance from the nearest internal rib than a center of the second thinner arc. 
     
     
         10 . 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, the second plug including an arc with a thinner width and an arc with a thicker width; 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 the first plug extending further than the third plug.   
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 10 , 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. 
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 10 , the third plug including an arc with a thinner width and an arc with a thicker width. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 12 , the closure further comprising an internal rib extending radially inward from the first plug to the top panel. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 13 , the arc with the thinner width being referred to as a thinner arc and the arc with the thicker width being referred to as a thicker arc, the second plug and the third plug each having multiple thinner arcs and multiple thinner arcs. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 12 , the closure further comprising at least two internal ribs extending radially inward from the first plug to the top panel, and the second plug and the third plug each having multiple thinner arcs and multiple thicker arcs. 
     
     
         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.