PERFECT SEAL CANNING LID DEVICE AND SYSTEM

Abstract

A reusable canning lid device and system for a canning container includes a plastic lid, a seal, and a band. The lid or band includes a raised portion such that the seal is not circumferentially equal in compressed communication which allows relief of pressure built up in a typical pressure canning, water bath, or vacuum sealing application. This makes it safe to the risk of overpressure and scalding. It is an important advance in the technology of canning and other applications of pressure control in thermal situations. Safety is very important to a typical canner who has limited capability to prevent explosive pressures from building up due to steam pressure expansion and high forces causing container bursts.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to canning lids for canning containers and, more particularly, to a resuseable canning lid device and system for a canning container.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known to provide a process for preserving food through canning. The process for canning to preserve food was first proven in the early 1800's and used a container such as a glass jar, a flat lid made of metal such as tin, and a seal such as wax. Later improvements to the early canning process came with the advent of the Mason jar and its reusable screw-on threaded band for providing a sealing mechanism between a metal lid of zinc with a rubber ring and a glass container with a mating thread molded at the opening. The rubber ring created a seal maintained by the threaded band screwed in place. Throughout its history, the metal lid and wax seal have not been reusable.

The advent and development of these components provided an affordable and easy to use method for home canning and became popular for preserving consumable foodstuff such as sauces, pickles, relishes, fruit and tomatoes. This was an important development in the era pre-dating the common use of refrigeration and convenience stores for obtaining and keeping food from spoilage.

Other developments have followed to accomplish the same results, for example, jar variations allowing the use of glass lids held in place with a metal clamp for eliminating corrosion concerns and subsequent loss of seal leading to food contamination. Further improvements to this style of jar and seal included a raised lip to help keep the jar from cracking.

Mass production and distribution of glass canning jars began in the early 1900's, led by the Ball Corporation. Easier to fill wide-mouth jars were introduced around this time, as well as the innovation of permanently attaching the gasket seal to the metal lid. By 1915, a smaller, flat metal lid with the same permanent composition gasket seal had been developed using the same practice of screwing a metal band onto a glass jar to seal and hold the lid in place during hot water processing. This improved the two-part lid system, thereby allowing canning jars to be used over and over with low cost and easy to use disposable metal lids that are presently still commonly in use.

The development of engineering plastics in recent decades has allowed further advancements for canning practices. Plastic materials offer many advantages when compared to metals, ranging from better versatility of part geometry to chemical and corrosion resistance. Many plastics can be recycled to satisfy the growing demand to eliminate waste and support environmental and sustainability initiatives.

In the 1970's, TATTLER Reusable Plastic Canning Lids began being manufactured using a plastic compound that is safe for direct contact with food products. The food grade plastic used is known as Polyoxymethylene Copolymer (POM) or Acetal Copolymer. It is bisphenol-a (BPA) free, and FDA and USDA approved. The rubber rings (gaskets) are made from a food grade nitrile rubber and contain no latex.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide a canning lid device for a canning container that is reusable. It is also desirable to provide a canning lid device for a canning container that has a plastic lid. It is further desirable to provide a canning lid device for a canning container that relieves pressure built up during a canning process. As such, there is a need in the art to provide a reuseable canning lid and system that meets at least one of these desires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a reuseable canning lid device including a lid made of a plastic material and at least one raised portion on the lid adapted to provide a non-equal sealing force when affixed by a fastening device to a canning container.

Also, the present invention provides a reusable canning lid system including a lid made of a plastic material and a band adapted to mate with a canning container and at least one raised portion on the band adapted to provide non-equal sealing force on a lid when affixed to a canning container.

Further, the present invention provides a reusable canning lid device including a plastic lid and at least one thinned portion on the lid with a first portion of nominal thickness and a second portion thinner than the first portion and adapted to allow flexure when under pressure when affixed by a fastening device to a canning container.

Yet, the present invention provides a reuseable canning lid system for a canning container including a plastic lid adapted to close an opening of the canning container and a seal adapted for forming a vacuum seal between the lid and the canning container. The reusable canning lid system also includes a band adapted to be affixed to the canning container. The lid includes a non-thinned portion adapted to receive pressure from the band and a thinned portion adapted to provide access for the seal, whereby the seal is compressed between the lid and an edge of the opening of the canning container from pressure applied by the band. The seal is not circumferentially equal in compressed communication with the raised portion to allow a relief of pressure built up in a typical pressure canning, water bath, or vacuum sealing application.

Still further, the present invention provides a reusable canning lid system including a lid adapted to close an opening of a canning container, a seal cooperating with the lid and adapted for forming a seal between the lid and the canning container, and a band cooperating with the lid and adapted to be affixed to the canning container. The lid has at least one thinned portion adapted to provide a non-equal sealing force on the seal when affixed by the band to the canning container.

In addition, the present invention is reusable canning lid system including a lid adapted to close an opening of a canning container, a seal cooperating with the lid and adapted for forming a seal between the lid and the canning container, and a band cooperating with the lid and adapted to provide a non-equal sealing force when affixed to a canning container.

Also, the present invention provides a method of venting internal pressure when an outside of a solid vessel is heated. The method includes the steps of providing a lid, a seal, and a band, the lid having at least one portion which contacts the band and at least one lower portion not in contact with the band. The method also includes the steps of contacting the solid vessel with the seal, contacting the seal with the lid, and contacting the lid and the solid vessel with the band to hold the lid in place to the solid vessel.

Further, the present invention provides a method of venting internal pressure when an outside of a solid vessel is heated. The method includes the steps of providing a lid, a seal, and a band, the band having at least one raised portion which contacts the lid and at least one recessed portion not in contact with the lid. The method also includes the steps of contacting the solid vessel with the seal, contacting the seal with the lid, and contacting the lid and the solid vessel with the band to hold the lid in place to the solid vessel.

In addition, the present invention provides a canning lid kit including a lid, a seal, and a band, the lid having at least one raised portion which contacts the band and at least one lower surface not in contact with the band.

Still further, the present invention provides a canning lid kit including a lid, a seal, and a band, the band having at least one raised portion which contacts the lid and at least one recessed portion not in contact with the lid.

One advantage of the present invention is that a new reusable canning lid device and system is provided for a canning container such as a jar. Another advantage of the present invention is that the reusable canning lid device and system meets load and pressure requirements for a canning container. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the reusable canning lid device is made of a plastic material. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the reusable canning lid device and system uses an elastomeric seal configured to relieve pressure built up in a typical pressure canning, water bath, or vacuum sealing application.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a reusable canning lid system, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reusable canning lid system of FIG. 1 illustrated in operational relationship with a canning container.

FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the reusable canning lid system of FIGS. 1 and 2 configured to control the application of attachment pressure to a lid.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reusable canning lid system of FIG. 3 illustrated in operational relationship with a canning container.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a reusable canning lid device, according to another embodiment of the present invention, of the reusable canning lid system of FIGS. 1 through 4 that includes features for controlling the application of attachment force to the lid.

FIGS. 5 a and 5b are top views of embodiments of the reusable canning lid device of FIG. 5 with complementary features resulting from surface addition for controlling the application of attachment force to the lid.

FIGS. 5 c and 5d are top views of embodiments of the reusable canning lid device of FIG. 5 with complementary features resulting from surface reduction for controlling the application of attachment force to the lid.

FIGS. 5 e and 5f are perspective views of embodiments of the reuseable canning lid device of FIG. 5 with three complementary features designed to control the application of attachment force to the lid.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view that illustrates the components of a reusable canning lid system, according to the present invention, that includes a feature for controlling the application of attachment force to the lid.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the lid illustrating detail for seal interface and allowance for metal band differences.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating two reuseable canning lids showing detail providing for the ability to stack the lids.

FIG. 8 a is a top view illustrating two reuseable canning lids showing detail providing for the ability to stack the lids.

FIG. 8 b is a perspective view illustrating two reuseable canning lids showing detail providing for the ability to stack the lids.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rigid band, according to one embodiment of the present invention, which provides for the control of attachment force to the lid.

FIG. 9 a is fragmentary perspective view of the rigid band of FIG. 9 that provides for the control of attachment force to the lid.

FIG. 10 a is a top view of another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the reusable canning lid device.

FIG. 10 b is a perspective view of the reusable canning lid device of FIG. 10a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, one embodiment of a reusable canning lid system, according to the present invention, is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. A typical application for the reusable canning lid system 10 is canning contents such as food through the well-known process of heating the contents inside a solid vessel or a canning container, generally indicated at 20 in FIG. 2, such as a jar or can and then allowing the contents to cool, thus creating a vacuum seal. It should be appreciated that typical canning containers 20 are made of glass, but other materials such as metal or plastic could be employed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reusable canning lid system 10 includes a sealing device such as a seal 25, a reusable canning lid device such as a lid 30, and a fastening device such as a band 40, all according to one embodiment of the present invention. The seal 25 is adapted to seal the opening of the canning container 20. The seal 25 is a ring or has a ring shape. The seal 25 is made from an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material is a food grade Nitrile rubber that has a durometer reading of 70 on the Shore A scale. The elastomeric material contains no latex. It should be appreciated that the seal 25 may be of different material types, grades, and hardness based on the requirements of the particular application.

The lid 30 is adapted to close an opening of the canning container 20. The lid 30 is generally circular in shape, but may have any suitable shape to close the opening of the container 20. The lid 30 is made from a plastic material. The plastic material is of a food grade type. The plastic material is bisphenol-a (BPA) free. The plastic material may be an acetal copolymer plastic, a typical type being under the trade name Celcon M90 manufactured by Celanese. It should be appreciated that the lid 30 may be made of a metal or a combination of metal and plastic.

The fastening device is called the band 40 in the food canning industry and is adapted to affix the lid 30 to the canning container 20. The band 40 has an annular or ring shape. The band 40 has one or more threads for threadably engaging or mating with threads of the container 20. The band 40 is typically made of metal. The band 40 may be made of a plastic material. For processing other contents that are not perishable such as paints, gels, adhesives and the like, the lid 30, seal 25, and container 20 can be made of different materials. It should be appreciated that, in another embodiment, the band 40 may include at least one snap configured to snap-on the container 20.

The canning process involves heating the components of the system 10 to a temperature to ensure that they are as bacteria free as possible in an approximate range of 170-250 degrees Fahrenheit. The container 20 is then filled with a desired content and the seal 25, lid 30, and band 40 then attached. The band 40 is tightened to finger tight and then loosened by one quarter inch as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This is atypical of the canning process that uses a standard metal lid which allows for the tightening of the band 40 with no metered loosening required. The loosening of the band 40 will allow the remaining air in the container 20 to vent as pressure builds during subsequent heating cycles. After the last heating cycle, the system 10 is removed from any heat source and allowed to cool. Since air in the container 20 has vented between the seal 25 and container 20 when at an elevated temperature, the air in the container 20 will start to draw a vacuum as it cools. When the container 20 is completely cooled, an adequate vacuum is present to ensure the food contents are preserved for long term storage.

An issue that has occurred in the aforementioned process is that if the band 40 is tightened too tightly to allow for air to be vented during the heating process, no vacuum seal is created and hence the food contents are not preserved. Therefore, tightening of the band 40 becomes a critical component to the canning sealing process and, as a result, a person unfamiliar with the learned technique may become discouraged.

To overcome this issue, the present invention provides a lid 30, according to one embodiment of the present invention, that allows for the lid 30 to be tightened without necessitating the subsequent loosening by a predetermined amount and eliminates the previous learning technique. The lid 30 of the present invention therefore provides foolproof sealing of canned contents. Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the lid 30 includes one or more, preferably three, raised portions 50a, 50b, and 50c equidistant from each other around an outer perimeter of the lid 30. The raised portions 50a, 50b, and 50c provide a non-equal sealing force on the seal 25 when affixed by the band 40 to the container 20. In FIG. 4, the system 10 that employs the lid 30 is illustrated. The band 40 includes a rolled edge 60 that makes contact with the raised portions 50a, 50b, and 50c. As the band 40 is tightened, force is applied and concentrated on the raised portions 50a, 50b, and 50c. One skilled in the art would be able to arrange the raised portions 50a, 50b, and 50c on the lid 30 to contact the band 40 in areas other than the rolled edge 60. The lid 30 has one or more circumferential portions or lip 70 that are between the raised portions 50a, 50b, and 50c and do not receive direct force from the band 40, but have force applied indirectly through the rigidity of the material for the lid 30. This lack of direct applied force allows for slight but adequate deflection of the lip 70 to allow for venting of internal pressure built up during the normal canning process. It should be appreciated that the raised portions 50a, 50b, and 50c of FIG. 3 can be applied to all types of lids 30 including metal, plastic, and glass.

In another embodiment, the raised portion of the lid 30 is a continuous raised portion of a predetermined length. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the lid 30 has a raised portion 55 with at least one sloping edge or tapered end or ends 57a and 57b that conjoin with an upper surface or non-raised portion 80 of the lid 30. The length of the raised portion 55 is defined by a central angle cc of about 250°-300° as illustrated in FIG. 5a that allows the venting process to occur. In another embodiment, the raised portion 55 and non-raised portion 80 are reversed so that raised portion 55 is an acute angle and the non-raised portion 80 is approximately 250°-300° as illustrated in FIG. 5b. With less contact by the band 40, the venting function becomes more independent of how tight the band 40 is on the container 20 because the force is applied to a small area and the surface area of the non-raised portion 80 is allowed to move up freely eliminating the prior problems with over-tightening the bands 40. The ratios of thickness between the portions 55 and 80 are adjusted based on the thickness and diameter of the lid 30. The feature as illustrated in FIG. 5b eliminates unsafe pressure build up when the canner or operator over-tightens the band 40, thereby providing a significant safety improvement over prior canning processes. Likewise, the overall thickness of the lip 70 on the lid 30 in FIG. 4 is critical. As the thickness of the lip 70 increases, the thread engagement between the band 40 and container 20 is reduced, potentially allowing stripping of the band 40 from the container 20. If the contents are under pressure at the time because the container 20 is relatively hot, the contents could be released from the container 20, creating a potentially hazardous condition. Once the band 40 has been stripped from the container 40, the band is unsafe because it will not tighten onto the container 20 appropriately. By changing the thickness of the lip 70 from a nominal dimension, the overall thickness of the lid 30, for example, does not need to be increased. It should be appreciated that this allows the molding of lids 30 to improve the canning process without the increase in band stripping that would occur if the raised portion 55 increased the overall thickness of the lip 70. It should also be appreciated that, if it is desired to back off the tightness of the lid 30 to avoid the risk of having the band 40 strip off the threads of the container 20, the band 40 can be loosened as previously described.

Referring to FIGS. 10a and 10b, another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the lid 30 is shown. As illustrated, indicators 120 may be used in connection with the lid 30 to indicate or gauge the amount or degree of loosening. A previously described technique is to loosen the band 40 by a predetermined amount, for example, such as a quarter inch (¼″). This can visually be hard to achieve with no reference indicators such as marks while holding hot contents within the container 20. In one embodiment, the indicators 120 are molded into the lids 30 circumferentially a predetermined amount, for example, every quarter inch (¼″) (or other desired index amount) to aid in loosening the band 40 by a fixed amount. It should be appreciated that the indicators 120 may be straight lines or have any suitable configuration.

Referring to FIG. 5, the tapered ends 57a and 57b of the raised portion 55 are of such an angle that the sudden change in surface height from the surface of the non-raised portion 80 to the top of raised portion 55 is minimized. This gradual increasing of height from the surface of the non-raised portion 80 to the top of the raised portion 55 helps maintain the surface planarity (reduce sink) of the lid 30.

Other embodiments of the lid 30 are shown in FIGS. 5c through 5f. FIGS. 5c and 5d illustrate the configurations of FIGS. 5a and 5b but with the surface of the portion 80 remaining at a nominal thickness and the surface 56 of the lip 70 being thinned. It should be appreciated that this configuration provides the desired functional behavior of the lid 30.

Referring to FIG. 6, the system 10 is shown with the lid 30 having the raised portion 55, the nominal upper surface of the portion 80, and the lip 70, the seal 25, the container 20, and the band 40 with the rolled edge 60. As with the system 10 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the raised portion 55 on the lip 70 will receive force directly from the rolled edge 60 of the band 40 when the band 40 is screwed on and tightened down. The area of the lip 70 that is at the nominal surface of the portion 80 will not receive downward force directly from the band 40, but will receive force indirectly through the rigidity of the material of the lid 30. This lack of direct applied force allows for slight but adequate deflection of the lip 70 of the lid 30 to allow for venting of internal pressure built up during the normal canning process.

The width of the raised portion 55 is such that it will accommodate a variation in location of the rolled edge 60 of the band 40. Therefore, bands of different manufacturers with slight variations in dimension will all perform similarly with the lids 30 of the system 10.

Referring to FIG. 7, the lid 30 of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes an outer edge that has a predetermined radius 90. Some fastening devices or bands such as those used commonly in the canning industry have a radius or rounded inside portion such that an interference would occur if it were not for the radius 90 of the lid 30. The rolled edge 60 is the desired portion of the band 40 that is to come into contact with the lid 30, portion 80, or raised portions 50a, 50b, 50c, or 55 of the lid 30. It is not desirable for the engagement force to be applied at the outside upper edge of the lid 30. The exemplary design therefore has the outside upper edge of the lid 30 rounded with a predetermined radius 90 to ensure a force is applied to the lid 30 other than to aforementioned portions 80, 50a, 50b, 50c, or 55.

It is a further object of the present invention to have a feature integrated into the lids 30 such that the seal 25 can be held in place while pressure is built-up inside the container 20 during a heating cycle. In FIG. 7, the lid 30 includes projections or details 100 that engage and hold the seal 25 so that lateral movement during pressurization is minimized. It should be appreciated that FIG. 6 shows the details 100 embedded into the seal 25.

In another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 8, the lid 30 includes a lower portion 102 having a ridge 75 and ledge 76 such that it aligns with an inside radius 77 of the raised portion 55 of similar lids 30 so that the lids 30 become stackable. In other embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8a, the lid 30 includes one or more posts 101 that can be used to engage the lower portion 102 to allow stacking of the lids 30.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, one or more features that accomplish controlled location of applied force may be placed into the metal or plastic band 40 as one or more raised portions such as depressions 110 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 9a which form recessed or non-raised portions therebetween. It is understood that there does not have to be three depressions 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 9a. There can be any number of depressions 110, with a minimum of one depression 110, which accomplishes the desired function of controlling the location of applied force to provide a non-equal sealing force when affixed to the container 20. It should be appreciated that these one or more features such as depressions 110 may be on the lid 30 described previously.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the seal 25 is integral with the lid 30 and could be formed by a two-step injection molding process. It should be appreciated that the injection molding process is known.

The present invention provides a method of venting internal pressure when an outside of the solid vessel or canning container 20 is heated. The method includes the steps of providing the lid 30, the seal 25, and the band 40. The lid 30 has at least one raised portion 50a, 50b, 50c, or 55 which contacts the band 40 and at least one lower surface or portion 80 not in contact with the band 40. The method also includes the step of contacting the solid vessel or canning container 20 with the seal 25 and contacting the lid 30 with the band 40 and the solid vessel or canning container 20 to hold the lid 30 in place to the solid vessel or canning container 20.

In another embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing the band 40 having at least raised portion 110 which contacts the lid 30 and at least one recessed portion not in contact with the lid 30. The method also includes contacting the solid vessel or canning container 20 with the seal 25 and contacting the lid 30 with the band 40 and the solid vessel or canning container 20 to hold the lid 30 in place to the solid vessel or canning container 20.

The present invention further provides a canning lid kit that includes the lid 30, the seal 25, and the band 40. In one embodiment, the lid 30 has at least one raised portion 50a, 50b, 50c, or 55 which contacts the band 40 and at least one lower portion 80 not in contact with the band 40. In another embodiment, the band 40 having at least one raised portion 110 which contacts the lid 30 and at least one recessed portion not in contact with the lid 30.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A reuseable canning lid device comprising: a lid made of a plastic material; andat least one raised portion on said lid adapted to provide a non-equal sealing force when affixed by a fastening device to a canning container.

2. A reusable canning lid system comprising: a lid made of a plastic material;a band adapted to mate with a canning container; andat least one raised portion on said band adapted to provide non-equal sealing force on a lid when affixed to a canning container.

3. A reusable canning lid device or system as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said at least one raised portion includes at least one sloping edge adapted to provide for planarity of a sealing surface of the lid to the canning container.

4. A reusable canning lid device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plastic material is BPA free.

5. A reusable canning lid device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plastic material is of a food grade type.

6. A reusable canning lid device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said band is made of a metal material and/or a plastic material.

7. A reusable canning lid device comprising: a plastic lid; andat least one thinned portion on said lid with a first portion of nominal thickness and a second portion thinner than said first portion and adapted to allow flexure when under pressure when affixed by a fastening device to a surface of a canning container.

8. A reusable canning lid device comprising: a plastic lid; andat least one indicator used in connection with said lid to provide a reference when loosening a band on a canning container.

9. A reuseable canning lid system for a canning container comprising: a plastic lid adapted to close an opening of the canning container;a seal adapted for forming a vacuum seal between said lid and the canning container;a band adapted to be affixed to the canning container;wherein said lid includes a non-thinned portion to receive pressure from said band and a thinned portion adapted to provide access for said seal, whereby said seal is compressed between said lid and an edge of the opening of the canning container from pressure applied by said band; andwherein said seal is not circumferentially equal in compressed communication with said raised portion to allow a relief of pressure built up in a typical pressure canning, water bath, or vacuum sealing application.

10. A reusable canning lid system comprising: a lid adapted to close an opening of a canning container;a seal cooperating with said lid and adapted for forming a seal between said lid and the canning container;a band cooperating with said lid and adapted to be affixed to the canning container; andwherein said lid includes at least one thinned portion adapted to provide a non-equal sealing force on said seal when affixed by said band to the canning container.

11. A reusable canning lid system comprising: a lid adapted to close an opening of a canning container;a seal cooperating with said lid and adapted for forming a seal between said lid and the canning container; anda band cooperating with said lid and adapted to provide a non-equal sealing force on said seal when affixed to the canning container.

12. A reusable canning lid system as set forth in claim 9, 10, or 11 including a plurality of lids that are stackable one on the other.

13. A reusable canning lid system as set forth in claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein said lid and seal are integral.

14. A reusable canning lid system as set forth in claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein said lid has integral indexing features.

15. A method of venting internal pressure when an outside of a solid vessel is heated, said method comprising the steps of: providing a lid, a seal, and a band, the lid having at least one portion which contacts the band and at least one lower portion not in contact with the band;contacting the solid vessel with the seal;contacting the seal with the lid; andcontacting the lid and the solid vessel with the band to hold the lid in place to the solid vessel.

16. A method of venting internal pressure when an outside of a solid vessel is heated, said method comprising the steps of: providing a lid, a seal, and a band, the band having at least one raised portion which contacts the lid and at least one recessed portion not in contact with the lid;contacting the solid vessel with the seal;contacting the seal with the lid; andcontacting the lid and the solid vessel with the band to hold the lid in place to the solid vessel.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein said lid is metal.

18. A method as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein said lid is plastic.

19. A method as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein said band is metal.

20. A method as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein said band is plastic.

21. A method as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein said band includes at least one thread adapted to threadably engage the solid vessel.

22. A method as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein said band includes at least one snap adapted to snap on the solid vessel.

23. A method as set forth in claim 15 or 16, wherein said lid includes at least one indicator to allow for visual gauging of an amount of loosening of said band on the solid vessel.

24. A canning lid kit comprising: a lid, a seal, and a band, the lid having at least one portion which contacts the band and at least one lower portion not in contact with the band.

25. A canning lid kit comprising: a lid, a seal, and a band, the band having at least one raised portion which contacts the lid and at least one recessed portion not in contact with the lid.

26. A canning lid kit as set forth in claim 24 or 25, wherein said lid is metal.

27. A canning lid kit as set forth in claim 24 or 25, wherein said lid is plastic.

28. A canning lid kit as set forth in claim 24 or 25, wherein said band is metal.

29. A canning lid kit as set forth in claim 24 or 25, wherein said band is plastic.

30. A canning lid kit as set forth in claim 24 or 25, wherein said band includes at least one thread adapted to threadably engage the solid vessel.

31. A canning lid kit as set forth in claim 24 or 25, wherein said band includes at least one snap adapted to snap on the solid vessel.