Patent Description:
The cap, in order to be reusable, is made of a durable and oxide-resistant material and include a releasable sealing ring allowing for cleaning operations.

Document <CIT> describes a container with a cap made of a folded metal sheet, said cap comprising a closing portion for completely covering the receptacle opening, and an independent engagement portion to provide engagement between the cap and the receptacle producing a compression force on the closing portion towards the annular mouth.

In this solution the sealing ring is not adhered but mounted in an annular groove defined in the periphery of the closing portion.

Document <CIT> describes a container similar to the previously described solution in which the closing portion includes a sealing ring molded in, and therefore adhered to, the closing portion. The adherence of the sealing ring to the closing portion is further increased by the periphery of the sealing ring being inserted in an annular groove defined in the periphery of the closing portion.

On the previous documents <CIT> and <CIT> the cap is made of a weak material, such aluminum, selected to be deformed by pressing the engagement portion thereof against the thread of the receptacle, causing the deformation of the cap which adopts the shape of the thread of the receptacle against which it is pressed. Therefore, because it is made of a deformable material, said engagement portion could be easily deformed or bended accidentally during manipulation operations, reducing the reusability of the cap.

Also, on both documents, the closing portion is retained into the engagement portion, preventing proper cleaning operations. Furthermore, <CIT> describes a container with a reusable cap according to the preamble of independent claim <NUM>.

Furthermore, the tinplate and other metals shall be varnished or painted to prevent oxidation and to permit the adhesion of the sealing ring thereon, and this varnish or paint enters in contact with the food or beverage stored in the container. As well these materials and their applications makes it unlikely to be reused due to potential interferences of the varnish in utilization.

Those and other problems are solved by the present patent application.

The present invention proposes, in a manner already known in the state of the art, a vacuum, gas and liquid tight container with a reusable cap including:.

the sealing ring (<NUM>) is not adhered to the cap.

Said retention configuration can be, for example, a thread, housings on opposed sides of the cylindrical neck, an annular recess or an annular collar.

The cap can be attached or released from the glass receptacle by a releasable closure mechanism configured engaging the cap with the retention configurations of the glass receptacle in a releasable manner.

According to one embodiment, the releasable closure mechanism comprises engagement configurations, included in an engagement portion of the cap, which are complementary to a thread of the cylindrical neck, constitutive of the retention configurations. Said engagement configurations are defined by local deformations or folds of the metal sheet constitutive of the engagement portion of the cap.

Alternatively, the retention configurations of the cylindrical neck can be defined by a thread surrounding said cylindrical neck and the releasable closure mechanism can be a threaded ring, independent from the cap, surrounding the cylindrical segment and including engagement configurations complementary to the thread, said threaded ring further including a ring mouth segment overlapped to a perimeter area of the closing portion, retaining said closing portion against the annular mouth of the glass receptacle.

The releasable closure mechanism can also be defined by several clip members each connecting, under elastic stress, the retention configurations of the cylindrical neck with the cap when the cap is in closed position.

According to an alternative embodiment, the releasable closure mechanism comprises a shaped metal wire defining a first region configured for being connected to the cap, at least when in the closed position; a second region configured for being attached to the glass receptacle; and a third region connected to the second region and configured for being movable between a first position, in which the third region is connected to the first region under elastic stress, attracting the first region to the annular mouth of the glass receptacle, and a second position in which the third region is free of elastic stress and the first region is spaced apart from the annular mouth of the glass receptacle or is released from the third region.

The first region can be connected to the cap by its insertion in one or multiple depressions of the cylindrical segment defined in an outer back side of the one or multiple radial protrusions of the cylindrical segment. The radial protrusions are defined by a local bending of the metal sheet constitutive of the engagement portion of the cap, said local bending defining simultaneously the radial protrusions and depressions in the outer side of the engagement portion, where the first region can be housed.

The second region can be connected to the retention configurations of the glass receptacle by surrounding the cylindrical neck, preferably being inserted in a groove of said cylindrical neck or retained by an annular protrusion surrounding said cylindrical neck.

Preferably, the first region and the second region are connected to each other in an articulated manner in a first side of the cylindrical neck of the glass receptacle, and the third region is connected in an articulated manner to the second region in a second side of the cylindrical neck opposed to the first side, the connection between the first and third regions being configured to be releasable when in the open position.

Alternatively, the second region and the third region are connected to each other, and the first region is connected to the third region in an articulated manner, being configured to remain connected to the third region in both the closed and the open positions.

When the releasable closure mechanism is connected to the retention configurations of the cylindrical neck a compression force is produced pushing the closing portion towards the annular mouth of the glass receptacle, compressing a sealing ring in between. The sealing ring can be made of a suitable air-tight elastic or deformable material, such thermoplastic, plastic, rubber, silicone, cork or others.

The present invention further proposes the following features which are not known from the available prior art:.

The one or multiple radial protrusions of the cylindrical segment can be one or multiple tapered surfaces determining an inner diameter of the cylindrical segment that increases as the distance from the closing portion decreases, retaining the sealing ring.

According to a preferred embodiment, the closing portion includes an inner annular protrusion, which is concentric with the cylindrical segment and protrudes towards the receptacle opening, the sealing ring being compressed between the annular mouth and the inner annular protrusion and being retained in a centered position between said inner annular protrusion and the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment.

According to that, the closing portion includes an inner annular protrusion. It will be understood that said inner annular protrusion is a continuous protrusion with a circular shape and concentric with the cylindrical segment and therefore also concentric with the annular mouth of the glass receptacle when the cap is attached thereto.

Said inner annular protrusion protrudes from the closing portion towards the receptacle opening when the cap is attached to the glass receptacle, it is to say towards the interior of the cap.

When the cap is attached to the glass cap the sealing ring is compressed between the annular mouth of the glass receptacle and said inner annular protrusion, concentrating most or all the compression force applied to the sealing ring by the cap on said inner annular protrusion, increasing the obtained sealing without increasing the closing and opening force required to open and close the cap, preventing the entrance of food or beverage between the sealing ring and the annular mouth and/or the closing portion of the cap.

The sealing ring is retained between said inner annular protrusion and the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment when the cap is attached to the glass receptacle, preventing an undesired radial movement of the sealing ring, for example due to the suction produced by a vacuum existent within the glass receptacle, or due to an overpressure existent within the glass receptacle during its heating for example for an sterilization process.

Preferably the inner annular protrusion has a height equal to or greater than <NUM>% or preferably <NUM>%, of the thickness of the sealing ring to ensure a proper retention of the sealing ring, specially when the sealing ring is made of a material which softens when heated, such a thermoplastic.

The cylindrical segment of the engagement portion further comprises radial protrusions directed inwards, said radial protrusions being formed by local deformations of the metal sheet. It will be understood that the radial direction and the inward direction are defined in regard to the center of the engagement portion which has a general cylindrical shape which is concentric and surrounds the cylindrical neck of the glass receptacle when the cap is attached to the glass receptacle.

Said radial protrusions can be placed between the closing portion and the engagement configurations of the cap determining a local narrowing of the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment, it is to say a reduction in its inner diameter.

The sealing ring is not adhered to the cap, so it is loose in regard to the cap.

Said sealing ring is bigger than the local narrowing of the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment produced by the radial protrusions, so that its outer region interferes with the radial protrusions retaining the sealing ring within the cap between the closing portion and the radial protrusions preventing its fall from the cap when the cap is unscrewed from the glass receptacle.

This feature allows the sealing ring to be retained within the cap even when the cap is separated from the glass receptacle, but allowing the release of the sealing ring from the cap by elastic deformation of the sealing ring for cleaning or substitution, increasing the reusability of the cap.

The local narrowing has a diameter bigger than the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical neck. Because the sealing ring has an outer diameter bigger than the local narrowing, and preferably equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment of the engagement portion, the sealing ring extends far beyond the outer edge of the annular mouth.

Furthermore, when the cap is attached to the glass receptacle in closed position by a threaded coupling as part of the releasable closure mechanism, and the glass receptacle is under vacuum conditions, the proposed configuration makes easier to break the hermetic seal. When the cap is unscrewed from the thread of the glass receptacle the radial protrusions moves upwards pulling up the outer region of the sealing ring, producing the deformation of the sealing ring and facilitating its separation from the annular mouth and the breakage of the hermetic sealing.

According to an additional embodiment, the sealing ring includes an annular portion and a tab portion connected to a connection region of the annular portion, said tab portion projecting in an outwardly radial direction through a passage defined in the cylindrical segment between the closing portion and the radial protrusions.

Preferably, the flat sealing ring includes a deformation enhancer configuration comprising:.

The tab portion, which extends radially from the annular portion, produces a local decrease in the deformability of the connection region in comparison with the rest of the annular portion because said tab portion determines a local increase of the flat sealing ring width in the radial direction. This reduced deformability jeopardizes and makes it difficult the airtight sealing breakage when the user pulls the tab portion.

Any of the proposed configurations produces an increase in the deformability of the annular portion in the connection region and in surrounding areas when the tab portion is pulled by the user, because the proposed deformation enhancer configuration reduces the cross section area of the flat sealing ring without endangering the airtight sealing, allowing for an easier release of the vacuum by pulling the tab portion.

When the deformation enhancer configuration is a through hole placed on the tab portion adjacent to the connection region, and preferably in contact or tangent with said connection region, said through hole interrupts the continuity of the material constitutive of the flat sealing ring, therefore increasing its deformability.

When the deformation enhancer configuration is a thickness reduction placed on the tab portion adjacent to the connection region, and preferably in contact or tangent with said connection region, said thickness reduction reduces the mass of material constitutive of the flat sealing ring, therefore increasing its deformability.

According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, said at least one through hole is one through hole placed between two lateral edges of the tab portion, dividing the tab portion in two branches, and preferably it is placed on a half of the tab portion closer to the connection region of the sealing annular portion.

According to that, the tab portion has two halves, one adjacent to the connection region containing the through hole, and one half away from the connection region.

Preferably the through hole is centered, said two branches being symmetric over a radial axis which extends outwards in a radial direction coplanar with the flat sealing ring and perpendicular to the connection region of the annular portion, to ensure a symmetric deformation of the flat sealing ring and preventing undesired stress concentrations.

The minimal width of each branch is at most one and half times the maximal width of the through hole measured in a direction parallel to the junction between the tab portion and the connection region. This relationship ensures a sufficient deformability enhance without producing a breakage risk.

Preferably the through hole is perpendicular to a main surface of the tab portion and is circular to prevent stress concentrations.

If the deformation enhancer configuration includes a notch, said notch will preferably reduce equal or less than one fifth of the width of the connection region, i.e. that the width of the annular portion, where includes said notch, is at least four fifths of the width on the rest of the annular portion.

Preferably said notch does not affect the area of the annular portion of the flat sealing ring compressed between the annular mouth and the perimetral region of the rigid lid.

The flat sealing ring can be made of rubber or silicone.

The thickness reduction of the deformation enhancer configuration can be an elongated groove parallel to the junction between the tab portion and the connection portion.

Said thickness reduction of the deformation enhancer configuration can be also defined on both sides of the tab portion, for example as two symmetric grooves defined on opposed sides of the tab portion.

It is further proposed to also include gripping configurations on the half of the tab portion away from the connection region. Said gripping enhancer configurations include holes, grooves, and/or protrusions on one or both main surfaces of the tab portion. Said gripping enhancer configurations provide an enhanced gripping of the tab portion for pulling.

The gripping enhancer configurations can be included at least on a half of the tab portion away from the connection portion, which is the most accessible part of the tab portion for a user.

The gripping enhancer configurations are, for example, lineal grooves and/or protrusions oriented in a non-radial direction.

The gripping and the deformation enhancer configurations consistent in a local variation in the thickness of the flat sealing ring will be preferably obtained by thermo-forming said flat sealing ring.

It will be understood that radial direction is a direction contained in a plane coplanar with the flat sealing ring when compressed between the rigid receptacle and the rigid lid which extends outwardly from a center of the annular mouth.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the cap is made of stainless steel, which is a durable material because it does not rust and because it is a hard and resistant which cannot be easily deformed accidentally. Furthermore, the stiffness of the stainless steel reduces the deformations produces on the cap when is attached to the glass receptacle, assuring a better transmission of the compression force from cap to the sealing ring, permitting the application of a greater compression force on said sealing ring achieving an improved sealing.

Said stainless steel cap is preferably unpainted and unvarnished, preventing the contact of the food or beverage contained in the receptacle with potentially hazardous substances presents on varnishes and paints. The unpainted and unvarnished stainless steel is not compatible with adhesives, preventing the adhesion of a sealing ring on it.

Optionally said one or more radial protrusions is one continuous protrusion surrounding the cylindrical segment, producing a better retention of the sealing ring and a uniform deformation of all the outer region thereof. Alternatively, the radial protrusions are multiple discrete protrusions, making easier the insertion and extraction of the sealing ring.

The inner annular protrusion of the closing portion can be:.

The inner edge of the annular mouth is the circular edge of the annular mouth having the smallest diameter, and the outer edge of the annular mouth is the circular edge of the annular mouth having the biggest diameter. Optionally said inner edge can be flattened producing a frustoconical surface parallel to the frustoconical surface of the inner annular protrusion.

The inner region of the sealing ring is the region thereof closest to the center of the sealing ring, and the outer region is the region thereof farthest from the center of the sealing ring.

Said frustoconical surface is preferably defined as a circular step between two non-coplanar regions of the closure portion. Preferably said frustoconical surface is vertically aligned with or vertically adjacent to the inner edge of the annular mouth when the cap is attached to the glass receptacle. Said inner edge of the annular mouth can be flattened.

Said protrusion having a V-shaped section is defined by an annular deformation of the metal sheet constitutive of the closing portion of the cap, producing an annular groove and one complementary annular protrusion on opposed sides of the closing portion of the cap.

According to an additional embodiment, the closing portion further comprises an outer annular protrusion which is concentric with the cylindrical segment, surrounding the inner annular protrusion, and which protrudes towards the receptacle opening, the sealing ring being compressed between the annular mouth and the outer annular protrusion, preventing the entrance of air between the sealing ring and the annular mouth and/or the closing portion of the cap. Preferably said outer annular protrusion is vertically aligned with or vertically adjacent to the outer edge of the annular mouth.

Said outer annular protrusion can be, for example:.

Optionally said outer edge can be flattened and can produce a frustoconical surface parallel to the frustoconical surface of the outer annular protrusion.

Preferably the closing portion is in contact with the sealing ring only through the inner annular protrusion or only through the inner and the outer annular protrusions, so that all the compression force applied by the cap to the sealing ring is concentrate on that areas, improving the sealing.

According to one proposed embodiment of the present invention, the closing portion and the engagement portion of the cap are independent to each other, two separated elements. In this case the engagement portion will further comprise a ring mouth segment overlapped to a perimeter area of the closing portion, retaining said closing portion between the ring mouth segment and the sealing ring.

According to that, when the cap is separated from the glass receptacle, the sealing ring is retained within the cap by said radial protrusions directed inwards, and the closing portion is retained within the cap between the sealing ring and the ring mouth segment of the engagement portion.

Preferably the closing portion has an outer diameter equal or smaller than the narrowing of the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment and equal or smaller than the engagement configurations of the cylindrical segment so that, once the sealing ring is removed, the closing portion can be also removed from the cap for cleaning or renovation operations. When said sizes are equal a little pressure can be required to extract said closing portion from the cap.

The closing portion can also include a bumped central area collapsible under a vacuum existent in the interior of the container as a tamper evidence.

According to an additional embodiment, the metal sheet of the engagement portion has a first thickness, and the closing portion is made of a metal sheet with a second thickness smaller than the first thickness, obtaining a stiffer and more durable engagement portion and a closing portion with sufficient flexibility to permit the collapse of the bumped central area under certain predefined vacuum level.

Preferably the first thickness is comprised between <NUM>,<NUM> and <NUM>,<NUM> and the second thickness is comprised between <NUM>,<NUM> and <NUM>,<NUM>, and preferably the sealing ring has a thickness comprised between <NUM>,<NUM> and <NUM>,<NUM>.

Alternatively, the closing portion can be made of a different material than the engagement portion. For example, the closing portion can be made of glass, ceramic, plastic, or can be an open mesh.

Other features of the invention appear from the following detailed description of an embodiment.

The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and non-limitative manner, in which:.

The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and not limitative.

The present invention is directed to a vacuum, gas and liquid tight container with a reusable cap <NUM>.

Said container is made of three principal parts: a glass receptacle <NUM> with a receptacle opening <NUM>, a cap <NUM> with a closing portion <NUM> completely covering said receptacle opening <NUM> and a sealing ring <NUM> compressed therebetween providing a tight seal.

The glass receptacle <NUM> further comprises a cylindrical neck <NUM> including an annular mouth <NUM> on one end, said cylindrical neck <NUM> and annular mouth <NUM> surrounding the receptacle opening <NUM>. The cylindrical neck <NUM> further comprises a thread <NUM> on its outer surface.

The cap <NUM> is made of metal sheet and includes said closing portion <NUM> and an engagement portion <NUM> which includes a cylindrical segment <NUM> with an inner diameter surrounding the cylindrical neck <NUM>. Said cylindrical segment <NUM> includes engagement configurations <NUM> defined by local deformations of the metal sheet which are complementary to the thread <NUM> of the glass receptacle.

Said engagement configurations <NUM> are protrusions of the cylindrical segment <NUM> projecting inwards the cap <NUM> in positions adapted to engage with the thread when the cap <NUM> is coupled to the glass receptacle <NUM>. Said engagement configurations <NUM> provide an attachment of the cap <NUM> to the glass receptacle <NUM> and generates a compression force which pushes the closing portion <NUM> towards the annular mouth <NUM> of the glass receptacle <NUM>, generating a compression force on the sealing ring <NUM> placed there between.

The sealing ring <NUM> has an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment <NUM> and is compressed between the annular mouth <NUM> and the closure portion <NUM> providing said tight seal.

The cylindrical segment <NUM> further includes, between the closing portion <NUM> and the engagement configurations <NUM>, one continuous radial protrusion <NUM> surrounding all the cylindrical segment <NUM> and defining a local narrowing on the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment <NUM>.

The sealing ring <NUM>, which is not adhered to the cap <NUM>, has an outer diameter bigger than the local narrowing and equal or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment <NUM>, so that said sealing ring <NUM> can be introduced by elastic deformation into the cap <NUM>, surrounded by the cylindrical segment <NUM>, and retained between the radial protrusion <NUM> and the coupling portion <NUM>.

In this position the sealing ring <NUM> is retained in the cap <NUM> by said radial protrusions <NUM> even when the cap <NUM> is separated from the glass receptacle <NUM>, but it can be removed by elastic deformation for cleaning operations.

An additional function of said radial protrusion <NUM> is to rise the periphery of the sealing ring <NUM> during the opening of the container, producing the deformation of the sealing ring <NUM> facilitating the entrance of gases and the breakage of a vacuum existing in the glass receptacle.

According to the embodiment shown on <FIG> the closing portion includes two regions non-coplanar two each other connected through the inner annular protrusion <NUM> which has a frustoconical shape, the region facing the receptacle opening <NUM> being at a lower level than the region facing the annular mouth <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, the inner annular protrusion <NUM> with frustoconical shape faces the inner edge 12a of the annular mouth <NUM>, compressing the sealing ring <NUM> against said inner edge 12a.

In an alternative embodiment shown on <FIG> the closing portion includes two circular concentric grooves defined by two annular deformations of the metal sheet, each of said grooves having an V-shaped cross section and defining an inner annular protrusion <NUM> and an outer annular protrusion <NUM> on the side of the closing portion <NUM> facing the annular mouth <NUM>.

The inner annular protrusion <NUM> compresses the sealing ring <NUM> against the inner edge 12a of the annular mouth <NUM>, and the outer annular protrusion <NUM> compresses the sealing ring <NUM> against the outer edge 12b of the annular mouth <NUM>. It will be evident that the outer annular protrusion <NUM> is optional.

Also, according the embodiments shown on <FIG>, <FIG>, excluded from the scope of protection of this patent, the cap <NUM> is made of a single metal sheet defining therein the engagement portion <NUM> and the closing portion <NUM>.

The retention configurations of the cylindrical neck <NUM> can be defined by a thread <NUM> surrounding said cylindrical neck <NUM> and wherein the releasable closure mechanism is a threaded ring <NUM>, independent from the cap <NUM>, surrounding the cylindrical segment <NUM> and including engagement configurations <NUM> complementary to the thread <NUM>, said threaded ring further including a ring mouth segment <NUM> overlapped to a perimeter area of the closing portion, retaining said closing portion against the annular mouth of the glass receptacle.

Alternatively, according to the embodiments shown on <FIG>, <FIG>, the cap <NUM> is made of two separated and independent parts, one corresponding to the closing portion <NUM> and one corresponding to the engagement portion <NUM>, which in this case further comprises a ring mouth segment <NUM> connected to the cylindrical segment <NUM> and covering a perimetral region of the closing portion <NUM> placed above the sealing ring <NUM>. Said ring mouth segment <NUM> transfers the compression force from the cylindrical segment <NUM> to the closing portion <NUM>.

According to this embodiment the closing portion <NUM> preferably has an outer diameter equal or smaller than the engagement configurations <NUM>, and equal or smaller than the radial protrusion <NUM>, permitting the extraction of said closing portion <NUM> from the cap <NUM> for cleaning operations. The sealing ring <NUM> retained within the cap <NUM> by the radial protrusions <NUM> will also retain said closing portion <NUM> while in place.

It is also proposed to include, in the closing portion <NUM>, bumped central area <NUM> collapsible under a vacuum existent in the interior of the container as a tamper evidence. In normal conditions said bumped central area <NUM> projects outwards from the cap <NUM>, as shown on <FIG>, but when the cap <NUM> is closed and certain amount of vacuum is created within the glass receptacle <NUM>, then the bumped central area <NUM> collapses and inverts it position to project inwards, as shown on <FIG>.

When the closing portion <NUM> and the engagement portion <NUM> are separated portions made of different metal sheets, the closing portion <NUM> can be made of a thinner metal sheet than the engagement portion <NUM> so that the bumped central area <NUM> can collapse under a small level of vacuum existent in the interior of the container and at the same time the engagement portion is stiff and does not bend or deform easily.

According to an embodiment shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the closure mechanism consists of a first wire, corresponding to the first region <NUM>, having an inverted U shape with a flat region overlapped to the cap and a second wire, corresponding to the second and third regions <NUM>, <NUM>, having a U shape with a rounded bottom including symmetrical portions 63a and 63b in the form of loops in areas close to their ends.

The ends of the second wire constitute the second region <NUM> and are inserted into respective housings arranged on opposite sides of the glass receptacle <NUM>, adjacent to the mouth <NUM> providing an articulated attachment between the second wire and the receptacle <NUM>. The ends of the first wire are inserted into respective opposite portions 63a and 63b in the form of loops of the second wire, on opposite sides of the outside of the receptacle <NUM>, providing an articulated attachment between the first wire and the second wire.

The first wire is superimposed on the ring mouth segment <NUM> of the cap <NUM> in the closed position, and the second wire allows, according to its position, moving the symmetrical portions 63a and 63b in the form of loops to which the first wire is articulated in a vertical direction, with the vertical stress of the first wire on the ring mouth segment <NUM> of the cap <NUM> being exerted against the mouth <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>, assuring hermetic closure thereof.

Alternatively, the first wire is inserted in a groove corresponding to the back side of the radial protrusions.

The first wire constitutes a first region <NUM> intended for pressing the lid <NUM> against the receptacle <NUM>, the portions 63a and 63b of the second wire constitute a third region <NUM> of the closure mechanism intended for connecting the closure mechanism to the receptacle <NUM> producing an elastic stress, attracting the first region <NUM> downwards, and serving as a supporting point for subjecting the second region to elastic stress.

The third region is connected to the glass receptacle <NUM> in an articulated manner through the second region <NUM>.

The portion of the second wire comprised between the symmetrical portions 63a and 63b in the form of loops is a lever arm which allows a simultaneous and symmetrical actuation of the two symmetrical portions 63a and 63b, locating the closure mechanism in the closed or open position in which the lid <NUM> is released, allowing it to be removed from the mouth <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>.

According to another envisaged embodiment the closure mechanism consists of a single shaped wire having an inverted U shape and a flat bottom.

Said metal wire will have a first region <NUM> in its central area, intended for being attached to the cap <NUM> as in the examples described before, a third region <NUM> defined in two portions 63a and 63b located in areas close to the ends of the wire, intended for being subjected to certain elastic stress when the closure mechanism is in the closed position, and a second region <NUM> corresponding to the two ends of the wire, said second region being complementary to an annular groove arranged around the mouth <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>, provided for fitting said second region <NUM> therein, and therefore serving as a supporting point so that the third region <NUM> can provide elastic stress to the first region <NUM> which transmits it to the lid <NUM> through two opposite points of the annular closure rib <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the cylindrical segment (<NUM>) can include a slit passage <NUM> between the closing portion <NUM> and the radial protrusions <NUM>, facing a side edge of the sealing ring <NUM>, or at least partially included in said radial protrusion <NUM>. Through said slit passage a flat tool, such a round knife, can be inserted for pushing the sealing ring <NUM> inwards, breaking the vacuum.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the flat sealing ring <NUM> further comprises a tab portion <NUM> extending outwards from the annular portion <NUM>, away from said central opening, through the slit passage <NUM>. Said tab portion <NUM> is accessible from the exterior of the container by a user for pulling the flat sealing ring <NUM> outwards in a radial direction coplanar with said flat sealing ring <NUM> for breaking the vacuum defined within the container.

The region of the annular portion <NUM> wherein the tab portion <NUM> is attached is named connection region <NUM>.

To improve the deformability of the annular portion <NUM> in the region coincident or adjacent to the connection region <NUM> it is proposed to include a deformation enhancer configuration to said flat sealing ring <NUM>.

According to a first embodiment shown on <FIG>, the proposed deformation enhancer configuration <NUM> comprises a circular through hole adjacent to the connection region <NUM>. Preferably said through hole is fully comprised in the half of the tab portion <NUM> closer to the connection region <NUM>.

Said through hole divide the tab portion <NUM> in two symmetric branches. Preferably the minimal width of each branch is equal to or smaller than the maximal width of the through hole. It is also preferred that each branch has a minimal width equal to or bigger than two times its thickness.

According to an alternative embodiment shown on <FIG>, the deformation enhancer configuration <NUM> is a linear groove contained in the tab portion <NUM> and adjacent to the connection region <NUM>, producing a thickness reduction of the tab portion <NUM> in comparison with the thickness of the annular portion <NUM>.

In this embodiment said groove is perpendicular to the radial direction, but the thickness reduction can have many other shapes or even affect the entire surface of the tab portion <NUM>. According to a third embodiment of the present invention, shown on <FIG>, the deformation enhancer configuration <NUM> is a notch of the inner edge of the annular portion <NUM> which surrounds the central opening. Said notch produces a width reduction of the annular portion <NUM> coincident with the connection region <NUM>. The dimension of said notch shall be limited to prevent the reduction of the sealing capacity of the flat sealing ring <NUM>. In this case the notch reduces one fifth of the width of the annular portion <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A container with a reusable cap, including:
• a glass receptacle (<NUM>) provided with a receptacle opening (<NUM>) surrounded by a cylindrical neck (<NUM>) including retention configurations on a cylindrical outer surface thereof, said cylindrical neck (<NUM>) defining an annular mouth (<NUM>) surrounding the receptacle opening (<NUM>);
• a cap (<NUM>) including a closing portion (<NUM>) completely covering the receptacle opening (<NUM>) and an engagement portion (<NUM>) made of metal sheet and including a cylindrical segment (<NUM>) with an inner diameter;
• a releasable closure mechanism connecting the engagement portion (<NUM>) with the retention configurations to provide engagement between the cap (<NUM>) and the glass receptacle (<NUM>) producing a compression force on the closing portion (<NUM>) towards the annular mouth (<NUM>) when the cap is in an attached position; and
• a sealing ring (<NUM>) with an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment (<NUM>) and compressed between the annular mouth (<NUM>) and the closure portion (<NUM>) providing a tight seal;
the cylindrical segment (<NUM>) includes one or multiple radial protrusions (<NUM>), directed inwards, defined by local deformations of the metal sheet and placed at a distance from the closing portion (<NUM>), said radial protrusions (<NUM>) determining a local narrowing of the inner diameter of the cylindrical segment (<NUM>), the sealing ring (<NUM>) being retained within the cap (<NUM>) when the cap is in a detached position from the glass receptacle (<NUM>) by having an outer diameter bigger than the local narrowing; and
the sealing ring (<NUM>) is not adhered to the cap (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the closing portion (<NUM>) and the engagement portion (<NUM>) of the cap (<NUM>) are independent to each other, and the engagement portion (<NUM>) further comprises a ring mouth segment (<NUM>) overlapped to a perimeter area of the closing portion (<NUM>), retaining said closing portion (<NUM>) between the ring mouth segment (<NUM>) and the sealing ring (<NUM>).