Vacuum package with improved closure

Claim 2

The composite closure for press-on application and pull-off removal with respect to a container having a top opening with an annular top seal finish, said composite closure comprising an outer integrally-formed plastic fitment and a gasketed closure lid carried within said fitment, said fitment having a top portion which includes an outer annular section and an inner lift tab, and a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from the periphery of said outer annular section, said depending skirt having a plurality of lid-engaging lugs extending radially inwardly therefrom positioned to engage and retain the periphery of said gasketed closure lid, said inner lift tab being hinged to said annular section at a portion thereof which has a smaller radius than the radius to said lugs, and being hinged at a portion thereof which is axially aligned with a radius of one of said lugs.

Claim 3

The composite closure of claim 1 in which the tab is hinged to said annular section at a region thereon which is aligned axially with a portion of the closure lid at which the vacuum seal is destined to be formed.

Claim 4

A vacuum package comprising: a container body; and a composite closure adapted for press-on application and pull-off removal with respect to said container body; said composite closure having a plastic overcap and a rigid closure lid, retained within the overcap; said overcap having a top portion which includes an outer annular section, an inner lift ring; said overcap also including a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from the periphery of said outer annular section, said depending skirt portion having a plurality of lugs extending radially inwardly therefrom and positioned to engage and retain the periphery of said gasketed closure lid within said overcap; said inner lift tab being connected to said annular section at a portion thereof which is radially inwardly of a line extending axially from the radially inward extreme of said lug; said top seal finish in said container body being formed by a smoothly curving surface defined at a rim of the container whereat the material of the container body reverses direction, and extends downwardly to provide an annular downwardly extending outer portion having an outwardly curving portion and inwardly rounded end portion; and wherein said cylindrical skirt portion is positioned to reside against said annular downwardly extending portion.

Claim 5

A vacuum package comprising: a container body; and a composite closure adapted for press-on application and pull-off removal with respect to said container body; said composite closure having a plastic overcap and a rigid closure lid, retained within the overcap; said overcap having a top portion which includes an outer annular section, an inner lift ring; said overcap also including a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from the periphery of said outer annular section, said depending skirt portion having a plurality of lugs extending radially inwardly therefrom and positioned to engage and retain the periphery of said gasketed closure lid within said overcap; said inner lift tab being connected to said annular section at a portion thereof which is radially inwardly of a line extending axially from the radially inward extreme of said lug; said top seal finish in said container body being formed by a smoothly curving surface defined at a rim of the container whereat the material of the container body reverses direction, and extends downwardly to provide an annular downwardly extending outer portion having an outwardly curving portion and inwardly rounded end portion; and wherein said cylindrical skirt portion is positioned to reside against said annular downwardly extending portion.

Claim 6

The package of claim 3, wherein the dependant skirt portion includes body-engaging lugs extending radially inwardly from said skirt at a position at which said lugs engage the inwardly rounded end portion of said annular downwardly extending portion.

Claim 7

The package of claim 3, wherein said body includes a radially outwardly extending annular bead portion positioned below said closure rim, and wherein said dependant skirt engages said bead.

Claim 8

The package of claim 3, wherein said dependant skirt includes radially inwardly extending lugs positioned to engage said downwardly extending portion, and wherein said body includes a radially outwardly extending bead adjacent said rim, and wherein said skirt engages said bead.

Claim 9

The package of claim 3, wherein said tab is hinged to said outer annular section of said fitment by means of a strap which extends radially when positioned adjacent said closure lid, and wherein the center radius of one of the lid-engaging lugs is axially aligned with the center radius of said strap.

Claim 10

A reclosable vacuum package comprising: a container body and a composite closure; said composite closure being adapted for press-on application and pull-off removal with respect to said container body; said body having a top opening with an annular top seal finish; said composite closure comprising an outer integrally-formed plastic fitment and a gasketed closure lid carried withiN said fitment and secured therein by a plurality of lid-engaging and retaining lugs on said fitment, and having an arcuate line of contact between said lugs and said lid; said fitment having a top portion which includes an outer annular section and an inner lift tab, and having a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from the periphery of said outer annular section; said inner lift tab being integrally hinged to said outer annular section at a position thereon along a line which is transverse to a first radius, said first radius being shorter than a radius of said line of contact between one of said lugs and said lid, the center of said hinged region being axially aligned with a radius to said one of said lugs.

Claim 11

A reclosable vacuum package comprising: a container body and a composite closure; said composite closure being adapted for press-on application and pull-off removal with respect to said container body; said body having a top opening with an annular top seal finish; said composite closure comprising an outer integrally-formed plastic fitment and a gasketed closure lid carried withiN said fitment and secured therein by a plurality of lid-engaging and retaining lugs on said fitment, and having an arcuate line of contact between said lugs and said lid; said fitment having a top portion which includes an outer annular section and an inner lift tab, and having a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from the periphery of said outer annular section; said inner lift tab being integrally hinged to said outer annular section at a position thereon along a line which is transverse to a first radius, said first radius being shorter than a radius of said line of contact between one of said lugs and said lid, the center of said hinged region being axially aligned with a radius to said one of said lugs.

Claim 12

A vacuum package comprising: a container body and a composite closure for press-on application and pull-off removal with respect to said container body; said container body having an annular top seal finish and a smoothly outwardly curving first bead adjacent said top seal finish; said composite closure comprising an outer integrally-formed plastic fitment and a separate rigid gasketed closure lid carried within said fitment; said fitment having a top portion which includes an outer annular end section and an inner lift tab and a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from the periphery of the outer annular section; said skirt portion having a lower tier of radially inwardly extending lug means for engaging said first bead, and an upper tier of radially inwardly extending lug means for engaging and retaining the periphery of said rigid closure lid; said inner lift tab being hinged to said outer annular portion of said fitment along a line which has a smaller radius than the radius to the inner extreme of said lid retaining lugs, and which is axially aligned with a radius of one of said lid-retaining lugs.

Claim 13

A vacuum package comprising: a container body and a composite closure for press-on application and pull-off removal with respect to said container body; said container body having an annular top seal finish and a smoothly outwardly curving first bead adjacent said top seal finish; said composite closure comprising an outer integrally-formed plastic fitment and a separate rigid gasketed closure lid carried within said fitment; said fitment having a top portion which includes an outer annular end section and an inner lift tab and a generally cylindrical skirt portion depending from the periphery of the outer annular section; said skirt portion having a lower tier of radially inwardly extending lug means for engaging said first bead, and an upper tier of radially inwardly extending lug means for engaging and retaining the periphery of said rigid closure lid; said inner lift tab being hinged to said outer annular portion of said fitment along a line which has a smaller radius than the radius to the inner extreme of said lid retaining lugs, and which is axially aligned with a radius of one of said lid-retaining lugs.

Claim 14

The package of claim 9, wherein said tab means is hinged to said outer annular portion of said fitment along a line which is axially aligned with the portion of the lid which is destined to form the sealing engagement with said top seal.