GB2278335A

GB2278335A - Resealable easy-open can

Info

Publication number: GB2278335A
Application number: GB9410243A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fereidoon Sepehr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-24
Filing date: 1994-05-23
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Also published as: GB9310645D0; GB9410243D0

Abstract

The ring 2 of a ring-pull can is used when rotated, to seal the opening formed on pulling the ring, a holder 3 (12, Figure 4) formed on the can end holding the ring down to seal the opening. The lower surface of the ring may be coated by a flexible plastics material to provide adequate sealing of the aperture. The can may contain beer or carbonated beverage. <IMAGE>

Description

RESEALABLE CAN This invention relates and is a modification and improvement on the invention described in my earlier patent application under number 9310645.8 dated 24th May 1993.

This Invention relates to a can of the kind generally known as a iring pull' can commonly used to contain liquids such as carbonated drinks and beers and more particularly, to an improved can with a resealing'ring pull as an integral part of the can used as an opener when levered away from the can body and as a resealer when roated and tightly engaged to a securing part of the can for the later consumption of the contents and prevention of leakage and more importantly, for the prevention of escape of carbon dioxide to better maintain the state of carbonation over a prolonged period of time Such cans are provided with a 'ring-pull' portion which, when levered away from the can body, either pushes a portion of the can top into the can so forming an orifice to give access to the contents,or of the kind where a portion of the can wall is removed with the 'ring-pull' from the body of the can. It is to be noted that':with the former type of beverage can no part is detached from the body of the can and the ring is still attached to the can and is folded back substantially to it's original position after forming the orifice.

It is this kind of can to which the invention relates, and hereinafter such can will be refered to as 'push-tab' can. The latter type where a portion is removed will be refered to as 'tear-tab' can. The term 'ring-pull' can encompasses both types.

Carbonated drinkssold in cans such as beers and soft drinks will tend to go flat after only a relatively short time,once the can has been opened, but only some of the contents will be consumed at one time.

Many devices have been invented to overcome the problem of loss of carbon dioxide gas from opened cans of beers and other beverages.

However, existing devices are not practical or effective for resealing such canS in preventing loss of carbonation once it has been opened.

Simple'snap-on' lids made of polyethelene plastic, like those used to resealcoffee jars, can not maintain the pressure of the carbon dioxide being released from the beverage due to leakage between the rim and that type of plastic lid. Moreover, such devices are too bulky and inconvenient to be carried by users in their pockets, bags or brief cases.

Screw type resealing devices which are designed to contain the whole body of the can, are bulkyer than the 1snap-on' lids and have further disadvantage as they can be used for one size of beverage can only, therefore, consumers will need to purchase various sizes of such screw type devices to suit different sizes of beer and many other carbonated drink cans available in the market.

Furthermore, as a result of high temperature or excessive movement, pressure within the reclosed can may increase to a relatively high level. Removing the existing resealers from can top will inevitably be accompanied with sudden release of carbon dioxide which can cause damage and discomfort to users.

According to the present invention, there is provided a'push-tab' can with a resealing 'ring-pull' hereinafter called the resealer which when levered away from the top of the can, pushes the 'tab' into the can forming an orifice, but more particularly, when rotated back by approximately 180 Degrees and engaged tightly to a securing part of the can top, hereinafter called the holder, tightly recloses the orifice, thus, prevents escape of carbon dioxide and leakage of liquid from the can.

The sealer, according to the present invention is composed of a 'ring-pull,' rotatably connected to the top of the can which when levered back forces the tab into the can so forming an orifice to give access to the contents.

ihe sealer, according to the present invention comprises a 'ringpull' which includes a layer or a gasket of flexible but reasonably firm plastic material which in use tightly recloses the orifice.

The plastic material being of the kind approved by health and safety authorities for intimate and prolonged contact for food and bevera ges.

In accordance with the present invention, the sealer may be located at any convenient and practical part of the can top. It may be totally or partly covered with flexible plastic material and the innermost part of the orifice is to be reasonably curved towards the inside of the can, or to be provided with smooth, curved and strong rim to allow the flexible plastic part of the resealer to reclose-the orifice.

According to the present invention, size of holder is such that it does not complicate or cause spilling of contents during consumption.

According to the present invention, the top layer of can has sufficient strength to withstand pressure exerted during opening and reclosing the orifice.

According to the present invention the tab may act as the sealer by being firmly connected to the 'ring-pull' in such a way that when the'rin-pull' is lifted, the 'tab' is pushed down inside the can to open the orifice, and when 'the 'ring-pull' is pushed down towards the can top and engaged to the holder, the tab is lifted towards the lower surface of the can top and pushed into the orifice in order to maintain adequate resealing of the orifice to prevent leakage and escape of carbon dioxide.

According to the present invention, hights of resealer and the holder in closed position is below the level of the can rim in oreder to facilitate packaging and storing.

According to the present invention the process of reopening the can is carried out in a gradual manner and not suddenly, similar to opening of an unopened can. Therefore, sudden release and explosion of C02 gas and relevant damages may be avoided.

The invention will be further described by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: figure 1 is a perspective view of the resealer and an unopened beverage can with holder as part of the can rim extending towards the centre of the can top.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of opened can with resealer engaged to the holder.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the resealer and an unopened beve rage can with holder on can top extending at right angles to the centre line of the orifice.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a reclosed can with resealer en gaged under the holder.

With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a beverage can 1 together with a resealer 2 produced as an integral part of the can 1 where, holder 3 is an inward extension of rim 4 directed towards the centre of can 1. Vertical distance between holder 3 and can top 8 is designed in such a way that, when resealer 2 is rotated by 180 degrees and vertically pushed down against holder 3, or when it is pushed under holder 3, it exerts sufficient pressure on resealer 2 which consequently prevents spilling of the contents and escape of carbon dioxide from the can 1.

The resealer 2 comprises an indentation 5 which in a reclosed position 11, becomes engaged to the holder 3 and as a result of the presure exerted by holder 3, tightly recloses the orifice 11.

While the invention has been described in connection with two pre fered embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the conterary, it is intended to cover such alterations, modifications and equivalents as may-be included within the scope and the spirit of this invention

Claims

aims 1. A resealable can for temporarily resealing an opened ring pull can of liquid comprising sealing means integrally formed to sealingly cover and engage the opened dispensing orifice of a can, gripping means operable to retain the resealing ring pull in a sealing engagement with the can.
2. A resealable can as claimed in claim 1 in which the sealing means comprise a portion shaped to cover, reclose and reseal the said orifice and an upper surface provided on the sealing means to lie on the surface of the can at the periphery of the said orifice.
3. A resealable can as claimed in claim 1 in which the sealing means comprises a portion shaped to be received in the said orifice from the upper surface of the can top to sealingly engage with the can.
4. A resealable can as claimed in claime 1 in which the sealing means comprises a portion shaped to be received in the said orifice from inside the can to sealingly engage with the said can when the ring pull is pushed down to lift the tab.
5. A resealable can as claimed in claim 1 in which gripping means is provided on the can top to tightly engage and hold the ring pull to the can top in order to maintain pressure on the sealer to cover the orifice and prevent leakage and escape of carbon dioxide.
6. A resealable can as claimed in claim 4 in which the orifice is shaped to accomodate the tab when the ring pull is pushed down and engaged to the holder.
7. A resealable can as claimed in claim 4 in which the tab has adequate thickness which in an unopened or reclosed can tightly seals the orifice.
8. A resealable can as claimed in claim 1 in which the gripping means and the free end of the ring pull are dented in order to be engaged to each other when the orifice is in a closed position.
9. A resealable can as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the ring pull is rotatably connected to the surface of the can.
10. a resealable can as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the lower surface or whole of the ring pull is coated by flexible but firm plastic material to provide adequate sealing on the orifice when reclosing an already opened can.