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An overcap is provided for removably covering an access opening into the interior of a container. The opening in the container defines a peripheral rim and includes an outwardly projecting bead for releasably retaining the overcap. The overcap is defined by a body portion formed to cover the opening

An overcap is provided for removably covering an access opening into the interior of a container. The opening in the container defines a peripheral rim and includes an outwardly projecting bead for releasably retaining the overcap. The overcap is defined by a body portion formed to cover the opening of the container and a depending skirt. The skirt extends from the bottom surface of the body portion for a distance sufficient to cover the projecting bead of the container rim. An inwardly directed retaining ring is formed on an inside surface of the skirt for engagement with the projecting bead on the container. A vent is formed within the retaining ring to define a flow path past the retaining ring. The vent may be a spacing rib formed on the inside surface of the skirt with one or more flow channels formed within the retaining ring.

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1. An overcap for a container having a container body defining an interior storage volume and an access opening into the interior storage volume, the access opening including an upstanding rim and means for releasably retaining the overcap thereon, the overcap comprising: a body portion formed to co

1. An overcap for a container having a container body defining an interior storage volume and an access opening into the interior storage volume, the access opening including an upstanding rim and means for releasably retaining the overcap thereon, the overcap comprising: a body portion formed to cover the access opening of the container, the body portion having an upper surface, a bottom surface and an outer periphery, the bottom surface adjacent the outer periphery forming an overlapping portion for extending across the upstanding rim of the container, wherein the overlapping portion when in a rest position is in continuous contact with the upstanding rim of the container;a skirt depending from the bottom surface adjacent the outer periphery of the body portion, the skirt dimensioned to cover the upstanding rim of the container when the bottom surface of the overlapping portion overlaps the upstanding rim of the container and the body portion covers the access opening of the container, a plurality of radially extending lugs formed on the upper surface of the overlapping portion, the lugs extending radially across the overlapping portion and extending from the upper surface in a direction opposite of the depending skirt, the plurality of lugs positioned at spaced intervals around the outer periphery, the lugs positioned for radially extending across the upstanding rim of the container, anda plurality of flexure portions formed within the overlapping portion, the flexure portions located in the spaced intervals between the radially extending lugs, wherein the flexure portions flex into an active position and are out of continuous contact with the upstanding rim of the container creating a flow path between the overlapping portion and the upstanding rim when the pressure inside of the overcap is greater than the pressure outside of the container. 2. An overcap for a container as in claim 1, further comprising a retaining ring formed on the skirt, the retaining ring dimensioned for resilient engagement of the retaining means of the container. 3. An overcap for a container as in claim 2, further comprising one or more spacing ribs formed on the skirt and communicating with the retaining ring, the one or more spacing ribs defining a flow channel between the skirt and retaining means of the container, the flow channel extending through at least a portion of the retaining ring. 4. An overcap for a container as in claim 1, further comprising a projecting standoff ring on an upper surface of the body portion, the standoff ring projecting in a direction that is opposite of the depending skirt. 5. An overcap for a container as in claim 4, wherein the standoff ring is positioned inward of the overlapping portion. 6. An overcap for a container as in claim 1, further comprising one or more vents formed on the depending skirt, the vents being active during engagement of the overcap and the container. 7. An overcap for a container as in claim 6, wherein the vents are formed by one or more spacing ribs on the inside surface of the skirt, the spacing ribs defining one or more flow channels adjacent the ribs along the inside surface of the skirt. 8. An overcap for a container having a container body defining an interior storage volume and an access opening into the interior storage volume, the access opening including an upstanding rim and means for releasably retaining the overcap thereon, the overcap comprising: a body portion formed to cover the access opening of the container, the body portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, the lower surface adjacent the outer periphery forming an overlapping portion for extending across the upstanding rim of the container;a skirt depending from the lower surface adjacent the outer periphery of the body portion, the skirt dimensioned to cover the upstanding rim of the container when the lower surface of the overlapping portion overlaps the upstanding rim of the container and the body portion covers the access opening of the container;a plurality of radially extending lugs formed on the upper surface of the overlapping portion, the lugs extending radially across the overlapping portion and extending from the upper surface in a direction opposite of the depending skirt, the plurality of lugs positioned at spaced intervals around the outer periphery, the lugs positioned for radially extending across the upstanding rim of the container;a plurality of flexure portions formed within the overlapping portion, the flexure portions located in the spaced intervals between the radially extending lugs;a retaining ring formed on the skirt, the retaining ring dimensioned for resilient engagement of the retaining means of the container; andone or more spacing ribs formed on the skirt and communicating with the retaining ring, the one or more spacing ribs defining a flow channel between the skirt and retaining means of the container, the flow channel extending through at least a portion of the retaining ring,wherein the flow channels comprise a pair of slots formed within a retaining ring, with one of each of the pair of slots positioned on an opposing side of the spacing rib at an intersection with the retaining ring. 9. An overcap for a container as in claim 8, wherein the lugs are positioned at equidistantly spaced intervals on the overlapping portion. 10. An overcap for a container as in claim 9, wherein the lugs are formed as pairs of raised ribs, wherein the raised ribs within each of the pairs are closely spaced to one another and wherein the flexure portions are located between the raised rib pairs. 11. An overcap and container combination comprising a container having a body portion defining an interior storage volume and an access opening into the interior storage volume, the container body having an upstanding rim defining the access opening, andan outwardly projecting bead formed on the upstanding rim; andan overcap having a body portion, the overcap body portion having a covering portion formed to cover at least a portion of the access opening,a peripheral portion for overlapping the upstanding rim and extending outwardly beyond the projecting bead on the upstanding rim of the container when the overcap body portion is positioned to cover the access opening,a skirt depending from the peripheral portion of the overcap, the skirt extending from a bottom surface of the peripheral portion and covering the projecting bead when the covering portion is positioned to cover the access opening,an inwardly directed retaining ring formed on an inside surface of the skirt, the retaining ring resiliently engaging the projecting bead of the container body when the covering portion is positioned to cover the access opening,a plurality of lugs formed on an upper surface of the covering portion, the lugs projecting upwardly from the peripheral portion and extending radially across a portion of the peripheral portion, the lugs positioned at spaced intervals around the peripheral portion, andflexure portions within the peripheral portion, the flexure portions formed within the spaced intervals between adjacent lugs, the flexure portions being reactive to release internal pressure from within the container body when the covering portion is positioned to cover the access opening and the peripheral portion is in contact with the upstanding rim of the container body. 12. An overcap and container combination as in claim 11, further comprising one or more spacing ribs formed on the inside surface of the skirt, the spacing ribs intersecting the retaining ring and defining a flow channel between the skirt and projecting bead, the flow channel extending through the retaining ring. 13. An overcap and container combination as in claim 11, further comprising a projecting standoff ring on an upper surface of the covering portion, the standoff ring projecting from the container body in a direction opposite of the depending skirt, the standoff ring positioned radially inward of the peripheral portion and positioned inward of the upstanding rim when the covering portion is positioned to cover the access opening. 14. An overcap and container combination as in claim 11, wherein the skirt has a length extending from the bottom surface to the retaining ring, the skirt length being greater than the distance from a top edge of the peripheral rim to a bottom edge of the outwardly projecting bead. 15. An overcap and container combination as in claim 14, wherein a plurality of spacing ribs are provided on an inside surface of the skirt, the plurality of spacing ribs each intersecting with the retaining ring, and a flow channel formed adjacent each of the spacing ribs within the retaining ring. 16. An overcap and container combination as in claim 15, wherein the flow channels comprise a pair of slots formed within the retaining ring, with one slot positioned on opposite sides of the intersection of the spacing ribs and the retaining ring. 17. An overcap for a container having a container body defining an interior storage volume and defining an access opening into the interior storage volume, the access opening including a peripheral rim having an outwardly projecting bead, the overcap comprising: a body portion formed to cover the access opening of the container;a depending skirt formed on an outer periphery of the body portion, the skirt extending substantially perpendicular from a first surface of the body portion for a distance sufficient to cover and extend beyond the projecting bead when the body portion is in a resting position on the peripheral rim of the access opening of the container,an inwardly directed retaining ring formed on an inside surface of the skirt, the retaining ring resiliently engaging the projecting bead during placement of the overcap on the peripheral rim of the container,a vent formed within the retaining ring, the vent being active during engagement of the bead and the retaining ring, the vent is formed by a spacing rib formed on the inside surface of the skirt, the spacing rib intersecting with and extending through the retaining ring, and a flow channel formed adjacent to the spacing rib within the retaining ring,a projecting standoff ring formed on a second surface of the body portion, the standoff ring projection in a direction opposite of the depending skirt, the standoff ring positioned inwardly of the position of the skirt and positioned inwardly of the position of the peripheral rim of the container when the body portion is in engagement with the peripheral rim. 18. An overcap as in claim 17, wherein the spacing rib extends from the body portion along an inside surface of the skirt to the intersection with the retaining ring. 19. An overcap as in claim 18, wherein the flow channel comprises a pair of slots formed within the retaining ring, with one slot positioned on opposite sides of the intersection of the spacing rib and the retaining ring. 20. An overcap as in claim 17, further comprising a plurality of radially extending lugs formed on the second surface of the body portion at positions radially outward of the standoff ring, the lugs being spaced from one another. 21. An overcap as in claim 20, wherein the lugs are equidistantly spaced around the periphery of the body portion. 22. An overcap as in claim 21, wherein the lugs are formed as pairs of raised ribs, wherein the raised ribs within each pair are closely spaced with one another and wherein the pairs of raised ribs are equidistantly spaced around the periphery. 23. An overcap as in claim 17, wherein the distance of extension of the skirt from the body portion to the retaining ring is greater than the distance from the top of the peripheral rim to the outwardly projecting bead. 24. An overcap as in claim 23, wherein the distance of extension of the skirt causes a separation of the retaining ring and the projecting bead of the container and defines a venting position wherein, during engagement of the retaining ring and the projecting bead, the first surface of the body portion is spaced from the rim of the container, and a vent passage is defined through the retaining ring. 25. An overcap as in claim 24, wherein the vent is formed by a spacing rib positioned on the inside surface of the skirt, the spacing rib extending from the first surface of the body portion and intersecting with the retaining ring, and a flow channel is formed adjacent to the spacing rib within the retaining ring. 26. An overcap as in claim 25, wherein the flow channel comprises a pair of slots formed within the retaining ring, with one slot positioned on opposite sides of the intersection of the spacing rib and the retaining ring. 27. An overcap as in claim 26, wherein the slots extend through a portion of the retaining ring. 28. An overcap as in claim 27, wherein a plurality of flow channels are formed by a plurality of spacing ribs positioned at spaced locations around the inner periphery of the skirt and each intersecting the retaining ring.