Automatic venting sealing cap

Claim 1

An automatic vacuum venting sealing cap for use in conjunction with safety storage containers for fluids, said cap cooperating with and substantially sealing an opening in said container when in a first engaged position, and detaching from said opening to allow substantially unrestricted access to said opening for the introduction or removal of contents of the interior of said container through said opening when said cap is in a second disengaged position, said cap including mounting means for cooperating with a mounting bracket, wherein said mounting bracket transports said cap between said engaged and said disengaged positions and retains said cap in sealing engagement with the top edge of a collar surrounding said opening when in said engaged position, said cap also including a cover whose perimeter dimensions are at least equal to the perimeter dimensions of the top edge of the collar surrounding the container opening, and further including a sealing gasket proximate to at least the periphery of the cover such that the sealing gasket is disposed between the cover and the upper edge of the collar surrounding the opening when the cap is in the engaged position, providing a substantially fluid and vapor tight seal between the cover and the collar, wherein the cover has connecting means connecting it to said mounting means and provides mechanical support for said gasket, the invention comprising: said mounting means including an air passageway therein with a first open end which is exterior to said container when said cap is in said engaged position, and with a second open end proximate said mounting means and said cover and extending through said cover; valve means, said valve means permitting passage of air therethrough in a first direction while substantially impeding passage of air therethrough in a second opposite direction. said valve operably connected to said second open end of said passageway and communicating with the container opening when said cap is in said engaged position, such that said valve permits the passage of air in a forward direction into said first open end of said passageway, through said passageway, through said second open end of said passageway, through said valve means, and into the interior of said container, while substantially preventing the passage of air or contents from the interior of said container through said passageway in a second opposite direction; said valve means including a reed valve element, said reed valve element describing a vent passageway having a flanged first end and a second end tapering from said first end, with a flexible orifice at said second end, said flanged first end of said reed valve element sealably engaged with said second open end of said air passageways to substantially prevent passage of air between said air passaageway and the interior of said container other than through said flexible orifice, said gasket including a deformable cushion proximate said cap and a flexible covering for contacting said upper edge of said collar; and means substantially encasing said valve means for mechanically protecting said valve means from potentially damaging contact with foreign objects, said valve protection means comprising a protruding cylindrical shroud substantially surrounding said reed valve element, the first end of said shroud sealably engaging and supporting said flange end of said reed valve element, the second end of said shroud proximate said flexible orifice and providing an opening through which said orifice may communicate with the interior of said container; said flexible covering and said shroud defining a vapor tight integral unit which, in conjunction with said reed valve element, substantially seals said container opening from passage of vapors or fluids out of said opening when said cap is in said engaged position.