Induction seal venting closure and container assembly

Abstract

A closure for use in closing a container which includes a seal liner, and includes side walls with an upper panel which is integral with the side walls. The upper panel has an upper surface defining a recessed relief area which corresponds to a venting location. The recessed relief area of the upper panel represents a location where a sufficient down force is not available for bonding a seal liner at that location to a container neck land surface. As such, the recessed relief defines a venting location for an assembled combination of the closure, container and seal liner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure for a container which includes a seal liner, said closure comprising:
 an upper panel having an inner surface; and   side walls extending from the upper panel,   wherein said inner surface includes at least one recessed relief positioned proximal the side walls and operatively defining a venting location.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said side walls are internally threaded. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 2 , wherein said closure is a single-piece, molded plastic component. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one recessed relief has a generally rectangular periphery. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one recessed relief has an axial depth of at least 0.010 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one recessed relief comprises a first relief and a second relief, and
 wherein the first relief and the second relief are equally spaced about the upper panel.   
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said closure is a single-piece, molded plastic component. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one recessed relief has a substantially rectangular periphery. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one recessed relief has an axial depth of at least 0.010 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one recessed relief is operatively formed through molding. 
     
     
         11 . A closure assembly comprising:
 a container having a neck with a land;   a closure for engagement with said container, said closure comprising an upper panel, the upper panel comprising at least one recessed relief for venting of said container; and   a seal liner position between said upper panel and said land, wherein at least a portion of said seal liner is positioned between said land and said at least one recessed relief.   
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein said seal liner is a lamination with a foil layer and a seal layer. 
     
     
         13 . The closure assembly of  claim 11 , wherein an other portion of said seal layer is operatively positioned against said land when said closure is assembled to close said container. 
     
     
         14 . The closure assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said other portion of said liner is operatively positioned between said land and said upper panel in a position that is not adjacent to said at least one relief, and wherein said upper panel and said land apply pressure to said other portion of said liner. 
     
     
         15 . The closure assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said at least a portion of said seal liner defines an airflow passageway with said land. 
     
     
         16 . The closure assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said at least a portion of said seal liner does not contact said upper panel. 
     
     
         17 . The closure assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least one other portion of said liner is operatively sealed with the land. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a vent in a closure assembly comprising:
 providing closure for engagement with a container, said closure comprising an upper panel, the upper panel comprising at least one recessed relief for venting of said container;   positioning a seal liner between the closure and the container;   applying a closing force to the closure and the container to operatively apply pressure to the seal liner, wherein a first portion of the seal liner disposed between the at least one recessed relief and the container does not receive the closing force; and   inductively heating said seal liner.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising sealing a second portion of the seal liner with a portion of the container, wherein the second portion is not positioned proximal the at least one recessed relief 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming the at least one recessed relief via at least one of machining or molding.