Patent Publication Number: US-8985361-B2

Title: Integrated lid for canning jar

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/595,435, filed on Feb. 6, 2012, and titled “Integrated Lid for Canning Jar,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a lid for a jar. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a lid for a canning jar. Canning jars may be known as Mason jars, fruit jars, jam jars, or Ball jars and are typically, but not necessarily, glass jars. The act of preserving food in a canning jar is commonly known as “canning” or “bottling.” 
     2. Background 
     Preserving food in canning jars is a common method used for food preservation due to its relative ease, low-cost, and suitability for use in a typical home kitchen. Moreover, people may choose to preserve food by canning because this type of preservation may be accomplished without the use of artificial food preservative additives. 
     Typical implements used in canning include a canning jar, disc lid, and screw ring. Canning jars are made in a variety of sizes, including one cup, one pint, one quart, and one gallon. Two common jar opening sizes are wide mouth (having a diameter of roughly three inches) and small mouth (having a diameter of roughly two and three-eighth inches), also known as regular mouth. Canning jars include an external continuous screw thread closure around the rim of the mouth. A disc lid typically comprises a metal disc (however, some disc lids comprise other material, such as plastic) having an elastomeric washer or gasket bonded to the underside of it at or near its outer edge. The disc lid diameter typically has a slightly larger diameter than the mouth of the canning jar, such that the disc lid may rest over the canning jar opening and the elastomeric washer contacts and forms a seal with the rim of the canning jar mouth. A screw ring typically comprises threading that matches the continuous screw thread closure of the canning jar. The screw ring has an internal flange that applies a downward pressure to the disc lid when the screw ring has been secured to and tightened on the canning jar via the canning jar thread closure. 
     Canning may typically be performed to preserve fruits, vegetables, meats, or other food in a canning jar. A typical method of canning may include preparing food for canning, inserting the prepared food into a canning jar, placing a disc lid over the canning jar mouth, securing the disc lid to the canning jar mouth by threading a screw ring on the canning jar, placing the canning jar in boiling water or steam to sterilize the food within the canning jar, and cooling the canning jar. As the canning jar cools, a partial vacuum may form within the canning jar, thereby keeping the disc lid secured to the canning jar mouth and maintaining a seal. The screw ring may then be removed and the canning jar may be ready for storage. 
     After the canning process has been completed, some people desire to provide a decorative element to the canning jar. One popular method to decorate a canning jar is to drape a decorative piece of fabric over the canning jar and secure the fabric to the canning jar by wrapping and/or tying a rubber band, string, ribbon, or the like around the fabric at the canning jar closure threads. A portion of the fabric may overhang below the rubber band, string, ribbon, or the like such that the overhanging portion of the fabric forms a skirt. A screw ring may also be used to secure the fabric to the canning jar. Some people insert a batting or other type of filler between the disc lid and the fabric to increase the aesthetic nature of the completed canning jar. 
     The typical canning lid and fabric closure system as describe above may have some disadvantages. For example, if a canning jar has a decorative fabric secured to it, a person would unsecure and remove the fabric each time he or she desired to gain access to the contents of the canning jar, thus causing inconvenience to the person. Further inconvenience may be caused by the multiple components of the lid, which may include the disc lid, batting, decorative fabric, and ribbon (or the like). The removal of each component from the canning jar may cause further inconvenience to the person, such that the person might be discouraged from consuming the contents of the canning jar. 
     Another disadvantage is that spills may cause the decorative fabric to come into contact with the contents of the canning jar, thereby causing food stains and reducing the aesthetic appearance of the fabric. 
     A further disadvantage of the typical disc lid and fabric closure system is that people with arthritis or other disabilities may have a difficult time opening the canning jar if doing so requires the person to untie, unscrew, or otherwise remove the fabric from the canning jar. If a screw ring is used to secure the fabric to the canning jar, it may be difficult to grasp the screw ring and/or turn it with sufficient force to remove it. Such a disadvantage may reduce a person&#39;s independence if he or she is unable to gain access to the contents of the jar without outside assistance. 
     SUMMARY 
     The ideas presented in this disclosure are configured to overcome the above-described disadvantages. One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a canning lid having a closure portion, a skirt, and a top portion. The closure portion has an internal continuous screw thread closure. The closure portion is embedded within the top portion. The top portion and the skirt are integrated into a single device. 
     An additional embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of removing a canning lid from a jar. The method of removing a canning lid from a jar includes setting at least one finger against a simulated skirt ridge on the canning lid, applying a turning force to the canning lid through the at least one finger to unscrew the canning lid from the jar, and removing the canning lid from the jar. 
     The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying figures, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description, and any preferred or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only so that this disclosure will be thorough, and fully convey the full scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of an integrated lid for a canning jar of the present disclosure secured to a canning jar; 
         FIG. 2  shows an integrated closure portion of an embodiment of the present disclosure having a continuous screw thread closure; 
         FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of the integrated lid of the present disclosure comprising a groove for receiving a decorative ribbon; 
         FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment of the integrated lid of the present disclosure comprising a decorative object thereon; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a step in the manufacturing process of an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment of the integrated lid of the present disclosure comprising an integrated decorative ribbon incorporated thereon. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures that form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that modifications to the various disclosed embodiments may be made, and other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     To overcome certain deficiencies in the prior art, embodiments of the present disclosure comprise an integrated canning jar lid. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a lid comprising decorative elements aesthetically similar to a traditional canning jar fabric skirt. The simulated skirt may be relative easy to grip when screwing and unscrewing the lid to a canning jar. With reference to  FIG. 1 , the integrated canning lid  100  may be used to provide a removable closure over the mouth of a canning jar  105 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the integrated canning lid  100  has a top portion  110 , a skirt  120 , and a closure portion  130 . In some embodiments, the top portion  110  is substantially flat as depicted in  FIG. 1 . In other embodiments the top portion  110  is rounded to mimic the rounded appearance of a canning jar fabric cover having batting or other filler. In the embodiment depicted, skirt  120  comprises wave-like ridges  122  to mimic the ruffled appearance of a fabric skirt. The ridges  122  may provide additional grip to a person attempting to screw or unscrew the integrated lid  100 . As such, embodiments of the present embodiment comprise ridges  122  having troughs between each ridge  122  wide enough to partially receive a user&#39;s finger. The ridges  122  may accordingly allow a user to apply increased torque to the lid  100  in opening and closing the jar  105 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the closure portion  130  comprises an internal continuous screw thread  140  that corresponds to a standard external thread closure of canning jars. The closure portion  130  may be adapted to fit over a mouth of a standard wide mouth canning jar or a standard small/regular mouth canning jar. Alternatively, the screw thread  140  may be customized to fit to virtually any sized canning jar mouth as may be desired. The screw thread  140  may comprise a metal (or other suitable material) portion embedded within and/or bonded to the integrated lid  100 . In embodiments of the present disclosure, the closure portion  130  comprises food-grade steel. In alternative embodiments, the closure portion  130  comprises other suitable materials. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be manufactured by building decorative elements around a typical jar lid (such as one manufactured from metal or like material) having the desired closure and thread size so that the jar lid becomes embedded in an integrated lid  100 . Alternatively, an integrated lid  100  may be manufactured by embedding a typical screw ring within the integrated lid  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , embodiments of the present disclosure comprise groove  150  running around the skirt  120  of integrated lid  100 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a ribbon  160  placed in groove  150  and wrapped around integrated lid  100 . In embodiments, ribbon comprises a semi-permanent bow or other knot to enhance the aesthetic value of the lid  100 . In embodiments, ribbon  160  has elastomeric properties that allow ribbon  160  to be stretched, placed into groove  150 , and thereby maintained in place. Groove  150  has sufficient depth to allow placement of ribbon  160  therein and prevent the ribbon  160  from sliding down skirt  120 . 
     Portions of the integrated canning lid  100  may be made of any suitable material that has the functional and aesthetic properties as described herein. In embodiments, the top portion  110  and skirt  120  are manufactured from polymer clay, glass, ceramic, polypropylene or other thermoplastic polymer, other plastic materials, or any other suitable material. Alternative embodiments of the present disclosure comprise multiple components joined together, with each component comprising different materials of manufacture. For example, the top portion  100  and skirt portion  120  may be made from polymer clay, while the lid closure portion is a metal lid embedded within the polymer clay. 
     Some considerations that affect the suitability of material of manufacture of the integrated lid  100  include the strength, durability, and weight of the material. The material is ideally strong and durable enough to withstand numerous cycles of removal and placement on the canning jar  105 . The material is ideally light-weight enough that its use on a canning jar  105  does not make the canning jar  105  top-heavy or too heavy for a person to conveniently carry. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , embodiments of the present disclosure include decorative element  170  on the top or sides of the integrated lid  100 . For example, embodiments of the present disclosure have decorative element  170  placed at the top of the integrated lid, whereas such decorative elements may comprise various shapes and/or aesthetic designs incorporated into the lid. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , embodiments of the present disclosure comprise decorative element  170  that mimics the shape of an apple. Alternative embodiments comprise one or more decorative elements that mimic other fruits, animals, or other aesthetically-pleasing designs. Such a decorative element  170  may provide additional grip to a person opening the jar while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the jar  105  and lid  100 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the integrated canning lid  100  may include a decorative simulated ribbon  660  (depicted in  FIG. 6 ) made of ceramic, plastic, or other polymer to further mimic a traditional fabric canning jar covering. The simulated ribbon may be made from the same material as the skirt. 
     In some embodiments, the ribbon  160  or simulated ribbon is color-coded to indicate the contents of the canning jar  105 . In other embodiments, the integrated lid  100  itself, or other portions of it, are color-coded to indicate the contents. In other embodiments, the top portion  110  includes embossed and/or printed text to describe the contents of the canning jar  105 . 
     In operation, a disc lid may be used to maintain a seal on a canning jar and preserve food therein. When the disc lid is removed and the seal is broken, an integrated lid  100  may be secured to the canning jar  105  to increase its aesthetic appeal and convenience of use. The integrated lid  100  may be removed from and replaced onto the canning jar  105  numerous times. After the canning jar  105  is empty, the integrated lid  100  may further be reused with other canning jars having the matching mouth diameter and thread specifications. 
     In other embodiments, the integrated lid  100  may be adapted to secure on a canning jar  105  and fit over a disc lid to provide the aforementioned aesthetic benefits even while the seal of the canning jar  105  has not been broken and the canning jar  105  is in storage. In this manner, one may gift a sealed canning jar  105  to another with the integrated lid  100  attached. After the disc lid has been removed, thereby breaking the seal, the integrated lid  100  may be secured to the canning jar  105  without the disc lid for short-term storage. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, an integrated lid  500  according to embodiments of this disclosure may be given its desired shape by draping a sheet of polymer clay  180  onto a mold  190  and forming ridge shapes  122 , thereby making the skirt  120  have the appearance of fabric. In embodiments, mold  190  comprises ridges  192  to provide shape to ridges  122 . Alternatively, a ceramic integrated lid may be manufactured by pouring the slip into a mold (such as a two-piece mold) that gives the lid a desired shape and form. Other typical manufacturing methods that are known in the art, such as injection molding, also fall under the scope of this disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises integrated lid  600  having an integrated simulated ribbon  660  incorporated therein. Ribbon  660  may be manufactured, sculpted, and/or molded from the same material as the other components  110 ,  120  of lid  600 . For example, an embodiment comprising a ceramic lid  600  comprises ribbon  660  manufactured from the same ceramic. Alternatively, ribbon  660  may be manufactured from a different material than the body of lid  600 . In embodiments, ribbon  660  is color-coded to the intended contents of a canning jar to provide a means for identifying the contents and/or for increasing the aesthetic nature of the lid  600 . 
     Some benefits of the present system and method result from the ease of use and increased visual appeal of the integrated lid  100 . The size and shape of the skirt and top portion allow for relatively easy removal from a canning jar  105 . The ridges  122  may provide additional grip to a person attempting to open and/or close the integrated lid  105 . A person may set his or her fingers against the ridges  122  of the integrated lid  100  and thereby apply increased torque for opening or closing the lid  100 . The lack of certain traditional components, such as a separate disc lid, fabric piece, ribbon, and batting of traditional canning jar lids, may increase the convenience and ease of use of the integrated lid  105 . 
     Although the present disclosure is described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, which are also within the scope of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.