GB2121773A - Closure plugs - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure plug of resilient material for sealing a can opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof comprises a body portion 21 having a depending skirt 26 spaced inwards from the body portion edge, the skirt having an annular recess 30 into which edges of the can hole can fit when the closure means is pressed into the hole. Also provided is a ribbed gripping portion 22. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Closure means This invention concerns closure means for resealing cans which are opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof.

Many drinks are sold in so-called ring pull cans wherein an opening is formed by pulling on a ring attached to a section of the can top which is defined by a line of weakness. Pulling of the ring causes the line of weakness to break allowing the section of the can top to be removed. The removal of a section of the can top means that the can cannot be readily resealed if not all its contents are required initially.

Other cans are often opened by means of an opener which by leverage on the rim of the can punctures a triangular shaped hole in the top of the can near its rim. Again such cans are not readily resealable.

The object of this invention is to provide a closure means for resealing cans which are opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof, such as the top surface.

According to this invention there is provided a closure means of resilient material, such as plastics or rubber for sealing a can opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof, comprising a body portion having a depending skirt spaced inwards from the edge of the body portion, the skirt having an annular recess into which the edges of the can hole can fit when the closure means is pressed into the hole.

The closure means skirt may be of any suitable shape and size to suit the various possible can opening shapes and sizes. For a ring pull can, the closure means skirt will be generally triangular.

Preferably the body portion has a gripping portion attached to, usually integral, therewith. The gripping portion may have an uneven surface to assist gripping and so, for example, may have a series of raised ribs on one or both sides thereof.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the top of a ring pull can; Figure2 is a plan view from below of a ring pull can closure means; Figure 3 is a section along line AA of Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a can fitted with a closure means of Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figure 1, a ring pull can 10 has a top 11 in which a generally triangular section 12 is enclosed by a line of weakness 13. The section 12 has attached to its apex a ring 14. To open the can, the ring is pulled towards the edge of the can thus pulling the section 12 which causes the line of weakness 13 to break gradually towards the edge of the can. Continued pulling of the ring eventually breaks the line of weakness all the way round the section 12 so that it can be removed from the can.

Obviously the removed section cannot be replaced to reseak the can so that the contents of the can have to be used quickly or transferred to a sealable container for storage.

To seal the opening a closure means 20 (Figures 2 to 4) of resilient material such as plastics or rubber, is provided which has a generally flat triangular body portion 21 having at its apex a generally circular gripping portion 22 that has ribs 24 on both sides.

The body portion 21 has a depending skirt 26 of triagnular shape to match the triangular opening in the can. The corners of the triangle are rounded. The skirt is tapered towards its bottom edge and has an annular recess 30 in its outer surface adjacent the body portion.

In use, the closure means is pressed into the can opening so that the skirt is pressed inwards until the edges of the opening engage the recess 30. The skirt, by virtue of its resilience, then returns to its normal position and is thus held in the opening. To remove the closure means, the gripping portion 22 is pulled upwards and towards the edge of the can and because of its resilience the closure means can thereby be pulled out of the can opening.

It will be appreciated that whilst the invention has been exempiified by a closure means for ring pull cans the invention also comprehends similar closure means for cans opened by other means which form a hole in the can.

The invention thus provides a reusable closure means for cans which enables the contents of the can, after opening of the can, to be kept fresh and clean.

1. A closure means of resilient material for sealing a can opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof, the closure means comprising a body portion having a depending skirt spaced inwards from the body portion edge, the skirt having an annular recess into which edges of the can hole can fit when the closure means is pressed into the hole.

2. A closure means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the skirt is generally triangular.

3. A closure means as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the body portion has a gripping portion attached to or integral therewith.

4. A closure means as claimed in claim 3 wherein the gripping portion has an uneven surface.

5. A closure means as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gripping portion has at least one ribbed surface.

6. A closure means for sealing a can opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Closure means This invention concerns closure means for resealing cans which are opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof. Many drinks are sold in so-called ring pull cans wherein an opening is formed by pulling on a ring attached to a section of the can top which is defined by a line of weakness. Pulling of the ring causes the line of weakness to break allowing the section of the can top to be removed. The removal of a section of the can top means that the can cannot be readily resealed if not all its contents are required initially. Other cans are often opened by means of an opener which by leverage on the rim of the can punctures a triangular shaped hole in the top of the can near its rim. Again such cans are not readily resealable. The object of this invention is to provide a closure means for resealing cans which are opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof, such as the top surface. According to this invention there is provided a closure means of resilient material, such as plastics or rubber for sealing a can opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof, comprising a body portion having a depending skirt spaced inwards from the edge of the body portion, the skirt having an annular recess into which the edges of the can hole can fit when the closure means is pressed into the hole. The closure means skirt may be of any suitable shape and size to suit the various possible can opening shapes and sizes. For a ring pull can, the closure means skirt will be generally triangular. Preferably the body portion has a gripping portion attached to, usually integral, therewith. The gripping portion may have an uneven surface to assist gripping and so, for example, may have a series of raised ribs on one or both sides thereof. This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the top of a ring pull can; Figure2 is a plan view from below of a ring pull can closure means; Figure 3 is a section along line AA of Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a can fitted with a closure means of Figures 2 and 3. Referring to Figure 1, a ring pull can 10 has a top 11 in which a generally triangular section 12 is enclosed by a line of weakness 13. The section 12 has attached to its apex a ring 14. To open the can, the ring is pulled towards the edge of the can thus pulling the section 12 which causes the line of weakness 13 to break gradually towards the edge of the can. Continued pulling of the ring eventually breaks the line of weakness all the way round the section 12 so that it can be removed from the can. Obviously the removed section cannot be replaced to reseak the can so that the contents of the can have to be used quickly or transferred to a sealable container for storage. To seal the opening a closure means 20 (Figures 2 to 4) of resilient material such as plastics or rubber, is provided which has a generally flat triangular body portion 21 having at its apex a generally circular gripping portion 22 that has ribs 24 on both sides. The body portion 21 has a depending skirt 26 of triagnular shape to match the triangular opening in the can. The corners of the triangle are rounded. The skirt is tapered towards its bottom edge and has an annular recess 30 in its outer surface adjacent the body portion. In use, the closure means is pressed into the can opening so that the skirt is pressed inwards until the edges of the opening engage the recess 30. The skirt, by virtue of its resilience, then returns to its normal position and is thus held in the opening. To remove the closure means, the gripping portion 22 is pulled upwards and towards the edge of the can and because of its resilience the closure means can thereby be pulled out of the can opening. It will be appreciated that whilst the invention has been exempiified by a closure means for ring pull cans the invention also comprehends similar closure means for cans opened by other means which form a hole in the can. The invention thus provides a reusable closure means for cans which enables the contents of the can, after opening of the can, to be kept fresh and clean. CLAIMS

1. A closure means of resilient material for sealing a can opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof, the closure means comprising a body portion having a depending skirt spaced inwards from the body portion edge, the skirt having an annular recess into which edges of the can hole can fit when the closure means is pressed into the hole.

2. A closure means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the skirt is generally triangular.

3. A closure means as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the body portion has a gripping portion attached to or integral therewith.

4. A closure means as claimed in claim 3 wherein the gripping portion has an uneven surface.

5. A closure means as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gripping portion has at least one ribbed surface.

6. A closure means for sealing a can opened by forming a hole in a surface thereof and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.