JAR CAP WITH VACUUM RELIEF CLOSURE

Inventor: MARK T. GILES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of container closures and more particularly to closures for vacuum-sealed jars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

[0002] Many foods are sold in jars that are sealed before the cooked contents cool to create an internal vacuum condition to securely hold the jar cap in place and effectively protect the contents from becoming contaminated. Vacuum sealing pertains both to jar caps with full threading requiring a complete rotation or more to be removed and quick-release jar caps requiring less than a quarter turn to be removed. A problem exists in that removing the vacuum-sealed jar caps requires the application of significantly more torque, in the range of 33% to 100% more torque, than needed to remove the same caps without a vacuum seal. Because of this greater torque requirement, many people have difficulty removing a cap from a vacuum-sealed jar. When the person is older, or has less hand strength than average, removing a vacuum-sealed cap from a jar becomes a major challenge.

[0003] Over the years, different devices have been developed and sold to attempt to overcome the problem of removing the vacuum-sealed jar cap. Some of these devices serve as a tool to increase the gripping force and torque the person can apply to the cap through leverage. Some are simply an elastomeric frictional pad to increase the amount of grip the person applies with the same force. Some are electrically driven clamping chuck devices to unscrew jar caps. In all cases, the vacuum has to be overcome, and traditionally a greater torque has been the available means to do so. The

present invention overcomes the problem through a novel and simple approach that eliminates the need for use of a tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0004] The present invention jar cap with vacuum relief closure provides a means of relieving a vacuum in a closed jar without using a tool. Once the vacuum is relieved, the amount of torque needed to open the jar cap is significantly reduced. The invention includes a jar cap with an orifice formed through its top surface and an adhesive coated closure tab removably affixed to the cap so as to cover the orifice. When the jar is vacuum-sealed, the closure tab is held in place both by the adhesive and the power of the vacuum. When the closure tab is removed from the cap, the orifice is exposed and ambient air enters the jar to relieve the vacuum. The jar can then be opened more easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0005] The present invention is best understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like elements are identified by similar reference numerals and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a closed jar with the vacuum relief closure cap of the invention, the jar shown in dashed lines.

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the closed jar of Figure 1 with the vacuum relief closure tab removed.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the vacuum relief closure tab of the invention showing an adhesive pattern thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: [0006] Referring now to Figure 1, a vacuum sealed jar 10 is shown in dashed lines with a cap 12 in place on jar 10. Cap 12 may be of the type requiring one or more complete revolutions to be removed from jar 10 or a quick-release type requiring less than a quarter turn to be removed. For either type cap, sealing under vacuum has been done and cap removal, prior to the present invention, would require the application of considerable torque.

The invention recognizes that whereas the created vacuum protects the contents of the jar from degradation, the vacuum holds the jar cap securely requiring considerable strength to remove the cap from the jar. To reduce the needed torque, the vacuum may be relieved by forming a hole through the jar cap, the hole remaining sealed during storage. The invention described below provides one embodiment for covering and uncovering a hole formed through a jar cap. After the vacuum has been removed, the hole cover may be reapplied over the hole to keep the jar contents from becoming contaminated.

[0007] Cap 12 is formed with an orifice 16 through its flat top surface.

Orifice 16 is of any convenient size, for example 1.0 mm (.040 inches) in diameter. A closure tab 18 is positioned on cap 12 over orifice 16 to prevent ambient air from entering jar 10 and equalizing pressure. Closure tab 18 is formed in a convenient shape from a sheet of flexible material, for example plastic sheet, preferably a non-elastic plastic sheet, and most preferably metallic coated Mylar® sheet, with an adhesive coated on the surface in contact with cap 12. Closure tab 18 is held in position over orifice 16 both with its adhesive and the suction of the vacuum within jar 10.

[0008] Referring now to Figure 2, cap 12 remains in place on jar 10 and closure tab 18 has been pulled upwardly, generally in the direction indicated by arrow X to expose orifice 16. Once closure tab 18 is removed from the position over orifice 16, ambient air enters the headspace above the product in jar 10 to relieve a vacuum therein and allow cap 12 to be removed from jar 10 with the application of substantially less torque than would otherwise have been required.

[0009] Referring now to Figure 3, closure tab 18 is shown apart from cap 12 with the lower surface of closure tab 18 showing. Closure tab 18 is illustrated as being formed in a teardrop shape. The teardrop shape of closure tab 18 provides a large, substantially round adhesive area A for the application of an adhesive and an extended lift portion 20 to be grasped for

removal of closure tab 18 from cap 12. Closure tab 18 is formed and positioned such that adhesive area A is substantially centered about orifice 16 (Figure 2) to leave an equal and maximum area of adhesive A around orifice 16 to the edge of closure tab 18 in all directions. Other shapes may be used, for example rectangular, within the scope of the invention. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, adhesive area A is coated with an adhesive that is aggressive and approved for use with food. Lift portion 20 is not coated with adhesive to allow a user to grasp lift portion 20 and lift closure tab 18 from jar cap 12 (Figures 1 & 2) to relieve the vacuum within jar 10.

[0010] While the description above discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that numerous variations and modifications of the invention are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the claims that follow.

BEST MODE FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION:

The best mode for practicing the disclosed invention is to provide 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; c. wherein the closure tab is formed of a flexible sheet material in a teardrop shape, the closure tab being coated on a surface thereof with an aggressive, food grade adhesive in a first portion and the closure tab surface remains uncoated in a second portion.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY:

The invention disclosed herein has industrial applicability by its pertinence to food processing and packaging, as well as manufacture of the jar cap and vacuum relief closure components. The underlying principle of the invention is an improved package for processed foods under vacuum to enable easier opening by the ultimate consumer. Thus, the invention provides a new marketing package that enhances utilization.