Patent ID: 8256340

Claim:
An article for use with a missile canister, the missile canister having a cover-supporting surface, wherein the article comprises a blow-off cover for the missile canister, wherein the blow-off cover comprises: a centrally-disposed main region having a first thickness, wherein the main region blows off of the missile canister when exposed to sufficient internal pressure; a peripherally-disposed marginal region having a plurality of bolt holes formed therethrough and a second thickness, wherein the marginal region and a portion of the main region overlie the cover-supporting surface of the missile canister and wherein an underlying surface of the marginal region and an underlying surface of the main region are co-planar; and a continuous ridge in a form of a ring that extends in a canister-inward direction from an inside surface of the main region, wherein the ridge: (a) extends below the cover-supporting surface and into the missile canister when the blow-off cover is mounted thereto; (b) is spaced apart from, and radially inward of the cover-supporting surface and the marginal region when the blow-off cover is mounted to the missile canister; and (c) is radially inward of a location at which the blow-off cover fractures on exposure to sufficient internal canister pressure.