Snap Resealing Closure for a Container

Abstract

A overcap is provided which covers the opening of a container. The overcap, in one form, engages an exterior of the container around the rim and along an inwardly directed flange which defines an opening of the container. The overcap snappingly engages with the container to produce an audible indication that the overcap is firmly attached to the container and that air is being expelled from inside the container. In another form, the overcap includes an invertible dome which is transformable between an upward convex position and an upward concave position.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A closure for a container, said closure comprising:
 an overcap having a skirt with an inwardly facing surface engageable with the container, and said overcap having an invertible dome which is transformable between an upward convex position and a concave position,   wherein said dome expels air from inside the container when transformed from the convex position to the concave position, and said dome maintains its concave position after transformation, and   wherein said overcap has a V-shaped portion located radially between the invertible dome and the skirt, the V-shape portion being formed from two legs pivotally connected at an angle which forms an apex of the V-shaped portion, an angle between the two legs being greater when the overcap is in the concave position than when the overcap is in the convex position.   
     
     
         32 . The closure of  claim 31 , wherein said inwardly facing surface of said overcap is engageable with said container along at least two lines. 
     
     
         33 . The closure of  claim 31 , wherein said inwardly facing surface of said overcap is engageable with said container along at least three lines. 
     
     
         34 . The closure of  claim 31 , wherein said dome is constructed to be transformed to the concave position by the user. 
     
     
         35 . A package with an overcap, said package comprising:
 a container having interior sides, a bottom and an opening at the top; and   an overcap having a skirt with an inwardly facing surface engageable with the exterior of a container, and said overcap having an invertible dome which is transformable between an upward convex position and an upward concave position,   wherein said dome expels air from inside the container when transformed from the convex position to the concave position, and said dome maintains its concave position after transformation,   wherein said overcap has a V-shaped portion located radially between the invertible dome and the skirt, said container comprising a flange extending radially inward from the opening, and the V-shape portion having an outwardly facing surface which abuts a surface of the flange, and   wherein an inwardly facing portion of the overcap spaced radially outward from the V-shaped portion abuts a top surface of the flange, when the overcap is in the concave position.   
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 35 , wherein said overcap forms a tighter seal with the container when in the concave position as compared with the convex position. 
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 35 , wherein said overcap is transformable to the concave position in a single action by applying force to the invertible dome with one's hand. 
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 35 , wherein said overcap produces an audible noise when transformed to the concave position. 
     
     
         39 . A package with an overcap, said package comprising:
 a container having sides, a bottom and an opening at the top, the container having a flange extending radially inwardly from the sides, forming the perimeter around the opening and a chime extending upwardly along the exterior surface of the container; and   an overcap having a skirt with an inwardly facing surface engageable with the exterior surface of the chime of the container and a radially inner wall with an inner surface having a plurality of pairs of convex projections extending radially outwardly towards the outer wall, the pair of convex projections comprising an upper projection and a lower projection, wherein each pair of the projections permits the flange of the container extending radially inwardly from the periphery of the container to be disposed between the upper projection and the lower projection.   
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 39 , wherein the overcap has an invertible dome which is transformable between an upward convex position and a concave position. 
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 39  further comprising a plurality of vent channels located along an inwardly facing side of the dome and extending radially to a position between a respective pair of upper and lower projections. 
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 39 , further comprising a plurality of raised notches on an inwardly facing surface of the outer ring projection, which inwardly facing surface engages the exterior of the container. 
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 39 , further comprising an annular disc portion spaced radially inward from the inner wall. 
     
     
         44 . A closure for a container, the closure comprising:
 an overcap having an outer ring projection and an inner ring projection, the outer ring projection engageable with the exterior of a container and the inner ring projection engaging with a flange of the container which extends radially inwardly from the periphery of the container toward a top opening of the container, the overcap having an invertible dome which is transformable between an upward convex position and an upward concave position; and   a V-shaped portion between the outer ring projection and the inner ring projection forming a hinge between the outer ring and the inner ring.   
     
     
         45 . A package with an overcap, said package comprising:
 a container having interior sides, a bottom and an opening at the top; and   an overcap having an inwardly facing surface engageable with the exterior of the container, and said overcap having an invertible dome which is transformable between an upward convex position and a concave position, wherein:
 the dome maintains its concave position after transformation; and 
 the overcap produces an audible indication that the overcap is securely affixed to the container, and 
   wherein said overcap has a V-shaped portion located radially between the invertible dome and the skirt, said V-shape portion formed from two legs pivotally connected at an angle which forms an apex of the V-shaped portion, wherein an angle between the two legs is greater when the overcap is in the concave position than when the overcap is in the convex position.   
     
     
         46 . A closure for a container, said closure comprising:
 an overcap having a ring projection having a surface for engaging a surface of the container; and   a plurality of vent channels located along an inwardly facing side of the overcap and extending radially from a center portion of the overcap to said ring projection.   
     
     
         47 . A package with an overcap, said package comprising:
 a container having sides, a bottom and an opening at the top, the container having a flange extending radially inwardly from the sides, forming the perimeter around the opening,   an overcap having a skirt with an inwardly facing surface engageable with the exterior surface of the container and a radially inner wall engageable with the flange, the overcap having a dome with a central portion, the dome being transformable between an upward convex portion and an upward concave portion, and   a plurality of vent channels located along an inwardly facing side of the dome and extending from the central portion of the dome to the inner wall of the skirt, the skirt having openings in the bottom thereof, which openings communicate with the vent channels for expelling gas which flow along the vent channels when the overcap is transformed from its upward convex position to its upward concave position.   
     
     
         48 . The package of  claim 47 , the inside wall of the skirt having inwardly convex projections for engaging the flange therebetween, and the skirt openings being located, circumferentially, between projections. 
     
     
         49 . The package of  claim 48  comprising a plurality of pairs of convex projections extending, parallel to each other circumferentially around the inside wall of the skirt, and the circumferential space between the pairs of projections engaging the flange of the container.