Fermentation Cover Apparatus

Abstract

A fermentation cover apparatus for facilitating the release of gases from a container during a fermentation process includes a lid which defines a cavity to expand the capacity of a container when attached to the container. A sealing member is attached to a top of the lid, and a fermentation airlock is removably mountable in the sealing member. The fermentation airlock facilitates the release of gases produced by the fermentation process, and the extra capacity of the lid protects against overflowing materials during the fermentation process.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fermentation cover apparatus comprising:
 a lid having an upper wall and a perimeter wall which are coupled to each other, the upper wall and the perimeter wall defining a cavity in the lid, the lid being configured to attach to a container such that the cavity is in fluid communication with the container, the perimeter wall being configured to seal to the container, the upper wall defining an opening which extends through the upper wall;   a sealing member mounted to the lid in the opening of the lid, the sealing member defining an aperture which extends through the sealing member such that the cavity is in fluid communication with a surrounding atmosphere via the aperture; and   a fermentation airlock removably mountable in the aperture of the sealing member to plug the aperture such that the cavity is not in fluid communication with the surrounding atmosphere via the aperture, the fermentation airlock being configured to allow gases to move only from the cavity to the surrounding atmosphere.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fermentation airlock is configured to visually indicate a release of gases from the cavity to the surrounding atmosphere. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter wall has interior threads configured to engage exterior threads of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall has a dome shape. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises a resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member has a seating surface inset from a perimeter surface of the sealing member, the seating surface abutting an interior edge of the upper wall of the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is removable from the lid, the sealing member tapering from a top side of the sealing member to a bottom side of the sealing member, the sealing member being mounted to the lid via a force fit. 
     
     
         8 . A fermentation cover apparatus comprising:
 a lid having an upper wall and a perimeter wall which are coupled to each other, the upper wall and the perimeter wall defining a cavity in the lid, the lid being configured to attach to a container such that the cavity is in fluid communication with the container, the perimeter wall being configured to seal to the container, the upper wall defining an opening which extends through the upper wall, the perimeter wall having interior threads configured to engage exterior threads of the container, the upper wall having a dome shape;   a sealing member mounted to the lid in the opening of the lid, the sealing member defining an aperture which extends through the sealing member such that the cavity is in fluid communication with a surrounding atmosphere via the aperture, the sealing member comprising a resiliently deformable material; and   a fermentation airlock removably mountable in the aperture of the sealing member to plug the aperture such that the cavity is not in fluid communication with the surrounding atmosphere via the aperture, the fermentation airlock being configured to allow gases to move only from the cavity to the surrounding atmosphere, the fermentation airlock being configured to visually indicate a release of gases from the cavity to the surrounding atmosphere.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing member has a seating surface inset from a perimeter surface of the sealing member, the seating surface abutting an interior edge of the upper wall of the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the sealing member is removable from the lid, the sealing member tapering from a top side of the sealing member to a bottom side of the sealing member, the sealing member being mounted to the lid via a force fit.