# US 11,440,710 B2 · Self-venting closure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,710 B2 - Document ID: US11440710B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/917,863 - Filed: 2020-06-30 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-30 - Assignees: Silgan Dispensing Systems Slatersville LLC - Applicants: Silgan Dispensing Systems Slatersville, LLC - Inventors: James E. Scotton; Patrick J. Brannon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440710B2 ## CPC - B65D 51/1644: {the element being a valve (B65D51/1661 takes precedence)} - B65D 51/1683: {by actuating a separate element in the container or closure} - B65D 51/1688: {Venting occurring during initial closing or opening of the container, by means of a passage for the escape of gas between the closure and the lip of the container mouth, e.g. interrupted threads} - B67D 3/00: Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes (separating and dispensing metered quantities of liquids G01F) - B65D 1/20: characterised by location or arrangement of filling or discharge apertures - B65D 25/40: Nozzles or spouts (in general B05B) - B65D 25/42: Integral or attached nozzles or spouts - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) ## Abstract A self-venting closure assembly includes a closure body having a deck with a peripheral mounting skirt and an annular seal on an underside of the deck adjacent to the peripheral mounting skirt. The closure body further includes a circular valve seat within the center portion of the deck, and a plurality of vent openings circumferentially spaced within the valve seat. An elastomeric umbrella valve is centrally mounted to the deck and has a frustoconical valve flap arranged on an underside of the valve seat. The valve flap cooperates with the vent openings to normally seal the vent openings but permits air to flow into an interior of the closure body when a vacuum is applied to an interior of the container on which the closure is mounted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A closure assembly comprising: a closure body having a deck with a peripheral mounting skirt, a flattened annular sealing rib on an underside of the deck adjacent to the peripheral mounting skirt, said flattened annular sealing rib having a downward facing engagement surface generally parallel to the deck, a valve seat within the deck, and a vent opening disposed within the valve seat; an annular gasket received adjacent to the underside of the deck and having an upward facing top surface in engagement with said downward facing engagement surface of said flattened annular sealing rib, said flattened annular sealing rib having an inward angle on an outer peripheral surface thereof; and an elastomeric umbrella valve mounted to the deck and having a valve flap arranged on an underside of the valve seat, said valve flap cooperating with said vent opening to normally seal said vent opening but permitting air to flow into an interior of the closure body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the umbrella valve includes an axial mounting stem which is removably received within a mounting hole within the valve seat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The closure assembly of claim 2 wherein the closure body includes a plurality of vent openings spaced circumferentially around the mounting hole and the valve flap extends radially outwardly from the mounting stem to seal said plurality of vent openings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The closure assembly of claim 3 wherein the underside of said valve seat includes a circular land area disposed radially outward of said vent openings and said valve flap includes an annular sealing rim which engages with said circular land area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The closure assembly of claim 3 wherein the peripheral mounting skirt includes mounting formations configured for engagement with a container neck. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The closure assembly of claim 5 wherein said flattened annular sealing rib and said annular gasket cooperate to form a seal against an upper peripheral edge of said container neck when received in assembled relationship therewith. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The closure assembly of claim 3 wherein the mounting skirt includes inwardly extending releasable mounting formations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The closure assembly of claim 7 wherein said flattened annular sealing rib and said annular gasket cooperate to form a seal against an upper peripheral edge of said container neck when received in assembled relationship therewith. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The closure assembly of claim 3 wherein the mounting skirt is inwardly threaded. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The closure assembly of claim 9 wherein said flattened annular sealing rib and said annular gasket cooperate to form a seal against an upper peripheral edge of said container neck when received in assembled relationship therewith. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the peripheral mounting skirt includes mounting formations configured for engagement with a container neck. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The closure assembly of claim 11 wherein said flattened annular sealing rib and said annular gasket cooperate to form a seal against an upper peripheral edge of said container neck when received in assembled relationship therewith. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the peripheral mounting skirt includes inwardly extending releasable mounting formations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The closure assembly of claim 13 wherein said flattened annular sealing rib and said annular gasket cooperate to form a seal against an upper peripheral edge of said container neck when received in assembled relationship therewith. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting skirt is inwardly threaded. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The closure assembly of claim 15 wherein said flattened annular sealing rib and said annular gasket cooperate to form a seal against an upper peripheral edge of said container neck when received in assembled relationship therewith.