Patent ID: 7784630

Claim:
A gasket for sealing an opening in a container, and allowing gas within the container to vent substantially horizontally therethrough, the gasket comprising: a first substantially liquid impermeable, gas permeable and compressible layer in fluid communication with the interior of the container for allowing a flow of gas but preventing a flow of liquid therethrough and for forming a seal between the gasket and container; a second porous substantially incompressible layer defining a first side, a second side, a peripheral surface extending between the first and second sides, an interior portion extending between the first and second sides and peripheral surface, and an open cell structure forming a fluid flow path extending substantially horizontally through the interior portion in fluid communication with the first layer and the peripheral surface of the second layer; and a third compressible layer located either (i) between the first and second layers, or (ii) on an opposite side of the second layer relative to the first layer, for resiliently compressing the gasket between the container and a container closure.