Container depressurization system

Claim 2

An improved sealing means for a refillable container assembly comprising a container having an opening at one end thereof, a closure member for closing said opening, and cooperating retaining means provided on said container and said closure member for removably retaining said closure member on said container, said improved sealing means comprising: first sealing means provided on an outer sidewall of said container between said retaining means and the end of said container opposite said one end and operative to engage said closure member to form a fluid tight seal between said closure member and said container; and second sealing means disposed between the interior of said container and said retaining means, said second sealing means engaging and creating a sealing relationship between said closure member and said container so as to prevent nongaseous material within said container from reaching said retaining means.

Claim 3

A sealing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second sealing means is integrally formed on one of said closure member and said container.

Claim 4

A sealing means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second sealing means comprises a depending flange integrally formed on said closure member.

Claim 5

A sealing means as set forth in claim 3 wherein said flange portion includes a radially outer surface resiliently engageable with the periphery of said container defining said opening.

Claim 6

A sealing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure member includes venting means, said closure member being movable to a position in which said venting means is operative to relieve internal pressure from said container.

Claim 7

A sealing means as set forth in claim 5 wherein said venting means comprises an axially extending cut out portion in said closure means, said cut out portion being operative to provide a passage around said first sealing means when moved into radial alignment with said first sealing means.

Claim 8

A sealing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second sealing means comprises a depending flange portion integrally formed on said closure member, said flange portion including a radially outer surface engageable with the peripheral portion of said container defining said opening and said first sealing means includes an annular groove formed on said container and a seal disposed within said groove.

Claim 9

A sealing means as set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure member includes venting means, said closure member being movable to a position in which said venting means is operative to relieve internal pressure from said container.

Claim 10

An improved sealing means for a refillable container assembly comprising a container having an opening at one end thereof, a closure member for closing said opening, and cooperating retaining means provided on said container and said closure member for removably retaining said closure member on said container, said improved sealing means comprising: first sealing means disposed between said retaining means and the end of said container opposite said one end and operative to form a fluid tight seal between said closure means and said container, said first sealing means including an annular groove formed on one of said closure member and said container and a seal disposed within said groove; second sealing means disposed between the interior of said container and said retaining means, said second sealing means engaging and creating a sealing relationship between said closure member and said container so as to prevent nongaseous material within said container from reaching said retaining means, said second sealing means including a depending flange portion integrally formed on said closure member, said flange including a radially outer surface engageable with the peripheral portion of said container defining said opening, said closure member having an axially extending cutout portion, said cutout portion being operative to provide a vent passage across said seal and said depending flange portion being moved out of engagement with said peripheral portion when said closure member is moved to a venting position so as to thereby release pressure from within said container.

Claim 11

An improved sealing means for a refillable container assembly comprising a container having an opening at one end thereof, a closure member for closing said opening, and cooperating retaining means provided on said container and said closure member for removably retaining said closure member on said container, said improved sealing means comprising: first sealing means disposed between said retaining means and the end of said container opposite said one end and operative to form a fluid tight seal between said closure means and said container, said first sealing means including an annular groove formed on one of said closure member and said container and a seal disposed within said groove; second sealing means disposed between the interior of said container and said retaining means, said second sealing means engaging and creating a sealing relationship between said closure member and said container so as to prevent nongaseous material within said container from reaching said retaining means, said second sealing means including a depending flange portion integrally formed on said closure member, said flange including a radially outer surface engageable with the peripheral portion of said container defining said opening, said closure member having an axially extending cutout portion, said cutout portion being operative to provide a vent passage across said seal and said depending flange portion being moved out of engagement with said peripheral portion when said closure member is moved to a venting position so as to thereby release pressure from within said container.

Claim 12

A sealing means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said retaining means comprises mutually engaging threads provided on said closure member and said container.

Claim 13

A sealing means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second sealing means comprise an annular depending flange portion provided on said closure member, said depending flange portion being defined by converging radially inner and outer sidewalls.

Claim 14

A sealing means as set forth in claim 11 wherein one of said radially inner and outer sidewalls is resiliently engageable with the periphery of said container defining said opening.