Self-venting vessel

Claim 2

In a self-venting vessel: a first wall subject to outward distortion by internal pressure buildup, a protuberance on said wall having an aperture therein, a portion of said protuberance which forms the periphery of said aperture defining a generally cylindrical wall, a portion of said first wall outwardly adjacent said generally cylindrical wall defining a shoulder; a generally cup-shaped closure member for said aperture having a bottom wall and peripheral side wall, said peripheral side wall including a wall portion of generally cylindrical shape adapted for sealing engagement with said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance to close said aperture, said member further including a lever member positioned outwardly of said closure member peripheral side wall such that, in response to distortion of said first wall, said shoulder biases said lever member to disengage said generally cylindrical wall portion of said closure member from said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance and thereby to vent said vessel; wherein said aperture is positioned in said generally cylindrical wall portion of said protuberance, said shoulder is joined at an angle to said generally cylindrical wall portion of said protuberance, and wherein said closure member generally cylindrically shaped wall portion is formed as a sleeve for exteriorly engaging said protuberance, said lever member being defined by at least one projection from an edge of said sleeve remote from the top of said protuberance; and wherein said sleeve is closed at the portion adjacent the top of said protuberance.

Claim 3

A vessel according to claim 1 including a plurality of said apertures in the generally cylindrical wall portion of said protuberance.

Claim 4

A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said projection defines an annular skirt on said sleeve.

Claim 5

A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve and the side wall of said first protuberance are tapered in a direction axially outwardly from the attached end of said protuberance.

Claim 6

A vessel according to claim 1 wherein said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance and said first wall shoulder are connected by a crimped annular edge, and the outer edge of said lever member is curled and contains in the resulting curled portion a sealing material.

Claim 7

In a self-venting vessel: a first wall subject to outward distortion by internal pressure buildup, a first annular protuberance on said wall having an aperture therein, a portion of said protuberance which forms the periphery of said aperture defining a generally cylindrical wall a portion of said first wall outwardly adjacent said shoulder generally cylindrical wall defining a; a generally cup-shaped closure member for said aperture having a bottom wall and peripheral side wall, said peripheral side wall including a wall portion of generally cylindrical shape adapted for sealing engagement with said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance to close said aperture, said member further including a lever member positioned outwardly of said closure member peripheral side wall such that, in response to distortion of said first wall, said shoulder biases said lever member to disengage said generally cylindrical waLl portion of said closure member from said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance and thereby to vent said vessel; wherein said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance is defined by a sise wall of said first protuberance and said aperture is positioned in said side wall, said vessel further including a second annular protuberance on said first wall surrounding said first protuberance, wherein the inside wall of said second protuberance defines said shoulder, said lever member being defined by an annular skirt projecting from that end of said closure member generally cylindrical wall remote from the top of the second protuberance adjacent said third shoulder.

Claim 8

In a self-venting vessel: a first wall subject to outward distortion by internal pressure buildup, a first annular protuberance on said wall having an aperture therein, a portion of said protuberance which forms the periphery of said aperture defining a generally cylindrical wall a portion of said first wall outwardly adjacent said shoulder generally cylindrical wall defining a; a generally cup-shaped closure member for said aperture having a bottom wall and peripheral side wall, said peripheral side wall including a wall portion of generally cylindrical shape adapted for sealing engagement with said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance to close said aperture, said member further including a lever member positioned outwardly of said closure member peripheral side wall such that, in response to distortion of said first wall, said shoulder biases said lever member to disengage said generally cylindrical waLl portion of said closure member from said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance and thereby to vent said vessel; wherein said generally cylindrical wall of said protuberance is defined by a sise wall of said first protuberance and said aperture is positioned in said side wall, said vessel further including a second annular protuberance on said first wall surrounding said first protuberance, wherein the inside wall of said second protuberance defines said shoulder, said lever member being defined by an annular skirt projecting from that end of said closure member generally cylindrical wall remote from the top of the second protuberance adjacent said third shoulder.

Claim 9

A vessel according to claim 6 including a plurality of apertures in the side wall of said first protuberance.