Carbonated Beverage Closure

Abstract

A threaded closure comprises a vent assembly that can be actuated to release pressure from a container on which the closure is located. The vent assembly is made from a flexible material that allows a vent to be uncovered by tearing the material. In one embodiment, the vent assembly allows pressure to be released form a container prior to removal of the closure.

1 . A vent assembly comprising:
 a top portion located adjacent to a first surface of a cap;   a bottom portion located adjacent to a second surface of the cap; and   a hollow connector located in a first opening of the cap, the hollow connector attaching the top portion to the bottom portion and having a cavity extending from the top portion through the bottom portion.   
     
     
         2 . The vent assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the cavity extends through the bottom portion and a second end of the cavity is covered by the top portion. 
     
     
         3 . The vent assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of the cavity is adjacent to the first surface of the cap. 
     
     
         4 . The vent assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a solid connecter extending from the top portion through a second opening of the cap to the bottom portion.   
     
     
         5 . The vent assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the top portion is elongated and has a substantially circular end opposite an end of the top portion located adjacent to the solid connector. 
     
     
         6 . The vent assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the top portion comprises a plurality of grip ridges. 
     
     
         7 . The vent assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the solid connector is larger than the hollow connector. 
     
     
         8 . A closure assembly comprising:
 a cap;   a vent assembly comprising:
 a top portion located adjacent to a top surface of the cap; 
 a bottom portion located adjacent to a bottom surface of the cap; and 
 a cylindrical connector attaching the top portion to the bottom portion through a vent orifice of the cap, the cylindrical connector having a cavity extending from the top portion to the bottom portion. 
   
     
     
         9 . The closure assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a first end of the cavity extends through the bottom portion and a second end of the cavity is covered by the top portion. 
     
     
         10 . The closure assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the cavity is adjacent to the top surface of the cap. 
     
     
         11 . The closure assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a solid connecter extending from the top portion through a second opening of the cap to the bottom portion.   
     
     
         12 . The closure assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the top portion is elongated and has a substantially circular end opposite an end of the top portion located adjacent to the solid connector. 
     
     
         13 . The closure assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the top portion comprises a plurality of grip ridges. 
     
     
         14 . The closure assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the solid connector is larger than the cylindrical connector. 
     
     
         15 . A closure comprising:
 a cap having a first opening and a second opening; and   a vent assembly comprising:
 a top member located adjacent to a top surface of the cap; 
 a bottom member located adjacent to a bottom surface of the cap; and 
 a cylindrical connector attaching the top member to the bottom member through the first opening of the cap, the cylindrical connector having a cavity extending from the top member to the bottom member. 
   
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 15 , wherein a first end of the cavity extends through the bottom member and a second end of the cavity is covered by the top member. 
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein the second end of the cavity is adjacent to the top surface of the cap. 
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a solid connecter extending from the top member through the second opening of the cap to the bottom member.   
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 18 , wherein the top member is elongated and has a substantially circular end opposite an end of the top member located adjacent to the solid connector. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 19 , wherein the top member comprises a plurality of grip ridges.