Patent ID: 7337916

Claim:
A venting container, comprising: a tubular body for enclosing a heatable product, said tubular body having an open end and a radially projecting bead circumscribing said open end, wherein said tubular body is comprised of paperboard; and a cap engaging said open end of said tubular body for at least partially sealing said heated product during initial cooking, and wherein said cap is longitudinally moveable between closed and vented positions by steam pressure generated within the container by heating said heatable product; said cap comprising, upper and lower ends defining an intermediate region therebetween, an upper protrusion disposed around at least a portion of said intermediate region for contacting a lower surface of said radially projecting bead of said tubular body in said closed position, wherein said upper protrusion is moved over said radially projecting bead when said cap is moved into said vented position, a retaining protrusion disposed around at least a portion of said lower end, wherein said retaining protrusion is structured to contact said radially projecting bead in said vented position, thereby preventing said cap from separating from said tubular body, and a plurality of vent channels disposed substantially between said upper protrusion and said retaining protrusion for venting said steam pressure in said vented position.