Resealable container closure
First Claim
1. A closure device for a can comprising a metallic end wall having an opening therethrough and a flexible closure element, said opening being substantially surrounded by a beaded flange means that flares outwardly relative to said opening, said beaded flange means including an exterior surface portion, said end wall including a wall portion surrounding said flange means with said wall portion extending at a selected angle relative to said exterior surface portion of said flange means,said flexible closure element having a central panel, a lever portion and a connecting portion connecting said central panel with said lever portion, said lever portion being initially positioned in a first position, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, as a generally upwardly directed frustoconical skirt portion and having, as viewed in vertical cross-section, a nose at its connection with said connecting portion, said metallic end wall and said closure element being constructed and arranged such that, upon positioning said closure element over said opening of said metallic end wall and moving said lever portion to a second position including, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, moving said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position, said nose portion will sealingly engage at least a continuous annular part of said exterior surface portion of said flange means, said central panel including a first surface and a second surface each disposed so that, when said closure element is fitted on said flange means of said opening of said end wall and said lever means is in said second position and said end wall is mounted on a can body, said first surface will face outwardly of said opening and said second surface will face inwardly, said second surface including removal retarding means for frictionally engaging at least a portion of said flange means at least as said closure element is being removed from said opening to thereby provide a resistance to removal of said closure device at least until said retarding means is free of said flange means,said wall portion of said metallic end wall having a substantially frustoconical annular section extending outwardly from said flange means and said lever portion having a smooth surfaced section which intimately engages said substantially frustoconical annular section of said end wall when said lever portion is moved to said second position so as to substantially prevent ingress of dirt and the like between said lever portion in said second position and said annular section of said wall portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A resealable closure device for use on metallic cans includes a metallic end wall having an opening surrounded by an upwardly extending and outwardly flaring beaded flange. The flexible closure element includes a central panel, a lever portion and a connecting portion connecting the lever portion to the central panel; the closure device is molded in an inverted umbrella position which is capable of being inverted to engage the flange of the opening; a skirt portion is provided on the interior side of the central panel of the flexible closure element to provide a degree of resistance to removal of the closure device from the opening by user.
83 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A closure device for a can comprising a metallic end wall having an opening therethrough and a flexible closure element, said opening being substantially surrounded by a beaded flange means that flares outwardly relative to said opening, said beaded flange means including an exterior surface portion, said end wall including a wall portion surrounding said flange means with said wall portion extending at a selected angle relative to said exterior surface portion of said flange means,
said flexible closure element having a central panel, a lever portion and a connecting portion connecting said central panel with said lever portion, said lever portion being initially positioned in a first position, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, as a generally upwardly directed frustoconical skirt portion and having, as viewed in vertical cross-section, a nose at its connection with said connecting portion, said metallic end wall and said closure element being constructed and arranged such that, upon positioning said closure element over said opening of said metallic end wall and moving said lever portion to a second position including, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, moving said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position, said nose portion will sealingly engage at least a continuous annular part of said exterior surface portion of said flange means, said central panel including a first surface and a second surface each disposed so that, when said closure element is fitted on said flange means of said opening of said end wall and said lever means is in said second position and said end wall is mounted on a can body, said first surface will face outwardly of said opening and said second surface will face inwardly, said second surface including removal retarding means for frictionally engaging at least a portion of said flange means at least as said closure element is being removed from said opening to thereby provide a resistance to removal of said closure device at least until said retarding means is free of said flange means, said wall portion of said metallic end wall having a substantially frustoconical annular section extending outwardly from said flange means and said lever portion having a smooth surfaced section which intimately engages said substantially frustoconical annular section of said end wall when said lever portion is moved to said second position so as to substantially prevent ingress of dirt and the like between said lever portion in said second position and said annular section of said wall portion.
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2. A closure device for a can comprising a metallic end wall having an opening therethrough and a flexible closure element, said opening being substantially surrounded by a beaded flange means that flares outwardly relative to said opening, said flange means including an exterior surface portion, said end wall including a wall portion surrounding said flange means with said wall portion extending at a selected angle relative to said exterior surface portion of said flange means, said selected angle between said wall portion and said exterior surface portion of said flange means lying within the range of about 55 degrees 75 degrees ;
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said flexible closure element having a central panel, a lever portion and connecting portion connecting said central panel with said lever portion, said lever portion being initially positioned in a first position, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, as a generally upwardly directed frustoconical skirt portion and having, as viewed in vertical cross-section, a nose at its connection with said connecting portion, said metallic end wall and said closure element being constructed and arranged such that, upon positioning said closure element over said opening of said metallic end wall and moving said lever portion to a second position including, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, moving said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position, said nose portion will sealingly engage at least continuous annular part of said exterior surface portion of said flange means, said central panel including a first surface and a second surface each disposed so that, when said closure element is fitted on said flange means of said opening of said end wall and said lever means is in said second position and said end wall is mounted on a can body, said first surface will face outwardly of said opening and said second surface will face inwardly, said second surface including removal retarding means for frictionally engaging at least a portion of said flange means at least as said closure element is being removed from said opening to thereby provide a resistance to removal of said closure device at least until said retarding means is free of said flange means. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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3. A closure device for a can comprising a metallic end wall having an opening therethrough and a flexible closure element, said opening being substantially surrounded by a beaded flange means that flares outwardly relative to said opening, said flange means including an exterior surface portion, said end wall including a wall portion surrounding said flange means with said wall portion extending at a selected angle relative to said exterior surface portion of said flange means,
said flexible closure element having a central panel, a lever portion and a connecting portion connecting said central panel with said lever portion, said lever portion being initially positioned in a first position, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, as a generally upwardly directed frustoconical skirt portion and having, as viewed in vertical cross-section, a nose at its connection with said connection portion, said metallic end wall and said closure element being constructed and arranged such that, upon positioning said closure element over said opening of said metallic end wall and moving said lever portion to a second position including, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, moving said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position, said nose portion will sealingly engage at least a continuous annular part of said exterior surface portion of said flange means, said central panel including a first surface and a second surface each disposed so that, when said closure element is fitted on said flange means of said opening of said end wall and said lever means is in said second position and said end wall is mounted on a can body, said first surface will face outwardly of said opening and said second surface will face inwardly, said second surface including removal retarding means for frictionally engaging at least a portion of said flange means at least as said closure element is being removed from said opening to thereby provide a resistance to removal of said closure device at least until said retarding means is free of said flange means, said opening of said end wall having a neck portion of minimum diameter relative to other portions of said opening, said exterior surface portion of said flange means extending at a selected angle of between about 30 degrees and about 40 degrees to a plane passing through said neck portion.
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4. A closure device for a can comprising a metallic end wall having an opening therethrough and a flexible closure element, said opening being substantially surrounded by a beaded flange means that flares outwardly relative to said opening, said flange means including an exterior surface portion, said end wall including a wall portion surrounding said flange means with said wall portion extending at a selected angle relative to said exterior surface portion of said flange means,
said flexible closure element having a central panel, a lever portion and a connecting portion connecting said central panel with said lever portion, said lever portion being initially positioned in a first position, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, as a generally upwardly directed frustoconical skirt portion and having, as viewed in vertical cross-section, a nose at its connection with said connecting portion, said metallic end wall and said closure element being constructed and arranged such that, upon positioning said closure element over said opening of said metallic end wall and moving said lever portion to a second position including, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, moving said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position, said nose portion will sealingly engage at least a continuous annular part of said exterior surface portion of said flange means, said central panel including a first surface and a second surface each disposed so that, when said closure element is fitted on said flange mean of said opening of said end wall and said lever means is in said second position and said end wall is mounted on a can body, said first surface will face outwardly of said opening and said second surface will face inwardly, said second surface including removal retarding means for frictionally engaging at least a portion of said flange means only as said closure element is being removed from said opening to thereby provide a resistance to removal of said closure device at least until said retarding means is free of said flange means.
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26. A closure device for a can comprising a metallic end wall having an opening therethrough and a flexible closure element, said opening being substantially surrounded by a beaded. flange means that flares outwardly relative to said opening, said beaded flange means including an exterior surface portion, said end wall including a wall portion surrounding said flange means with said wall portion extending at a selected angle relative to said exterior surface portion of said flange means,
said flexible closure element having a central panel, a lever portion and a connecting portion connecting said central panel with said lever portion, said lever portion being initially positioned in a first position, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, as a generally upwardly directed frustoconical skirt portion and having, as viewed in vertical cross-section, a nose at its connection with said connecting portion, said metallic end wall and said closure element being constructed and arranged such that, upon positioning said closure element over said opening of said metallic end wall and moving said lever portion to a second position including, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, moving said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position, said nose portion will sealingly engage at least a continuous annular part of the said exterior surface portion of said flange means, said central panel including first surface and a second surface each disposed so that, when said closure element is fitted on said flange means of said opening of said end wall and said lever means is in said second position and said end wall is mounted on a can body, said first surface will face outwardly of said opening and said second surface will face inwardly, said second surface including removal retarding means for frictionally engaging at least a portion of said flange means at least as said closure element is being removed from said opening to thereby provide a resistance to removal of said closure device at least until said retarding means is free of said flange means, said beaded flange means including a rounded portion and said closure element including a surface that is of substantially complementary configuration in size, shape and curvature to said rounded portion so that said rounded portion and said surface on said closure element are in substantially full and complete contact with each other upon initial positioning of said closure element over said opening prior to inverting said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position.
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27. A closure device for a can comprising a metallic end wall having an opening therethrough and a flexible closure element, said opening being substantially surrounded by a beaded flange means that flares outwardly relative to said opening, said beaded flange means including an exterior surface portion, said end wall including a wall portion surrounding said flange means with said wall portion extending at a selected angle relative to said exterior surface portion of said flange means,
said flexible closure element having a central panel, a lever portion and a connecting portion connecting said central panel with said lever portion, said lever portion being initially positioned in a first position, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, as a generally upwardly directed frustoconical skirt portion and having, as viewed in vertical cross-section, a nose at its connection with said connecting portion, said metallic end wall and said closure element being constructed and arranged such that, upon positioning said closure element over said opening of said metallic end wall and moving said lever portion to a second position including, when said central panel is generally horizontally disposed, moving said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position, said nose portion will sealingly engage at least a continuous annular part of the said exterior surface portion of said flange means, said central panel including a first surface and a second surface each disposed so that, when said closure element is fitted on said flange means of said opening of said end wall and said lever means is in said second position and said end wall is mounted on a can body, said first surface will face outwardly of said opening and said second surface will face inwardly, said second surface including removal retarding means for frictionally engaging at least a portion of said flange means at least as said closure element is being removed from said opening to thereby provide a resistance to removal of said closure device at least until said retarding means is free of said flange means, said metallic end wall having a substantially frustoconical annular section extending outwardly from said flange means and said lever portion having a smooth surfaced section which intimately engages said substantially frustoconical annular section of said end wall when moved to said second position so as to substantially prevent ingress of dirt and the like between said lever portion in said second position and said annular section of said end wall, said opening of said end wall having a neck portion of minimum diameter relative to other portions of said opening, said exterior surface portion of said flange means extending at a selected angle of between about 30 and about 40 degrees to a plane passing through said neck portion.
- 28. A closure device for a can, said closure device comprising a metallic end and a flexible closure element, said metallic end having an opening therein bounded by an outwardly and upwardly flaring beaded flange and having means adjacent its periphery for attachment to said can, said metallic end including an upwardly and inwardly tapering section between said means and said flange, said flexible closure element having a central panel, a lever portion and a connecting portion connecting said central panel and said lever portion, said lever portion being initially positioned as a generally upwardly directed frustoconical portion or skirt and having, as viewed in vertical cross-section, a nose at its connection with said connecting portion, said metallic end and said closure element being constructed and arranged such that upon positioning said closure element over said opening in said metallic end and inverting said lever portion to a generally downwardly directed position said nose portion sealingly contacts the outer surface of said flange without mechanically hooking under the outer surface of said flange and said connecting portion sealingly contacts said flange in a tangential relationship defined between said central panel and said flange while said lever portion abuts against said tapering section of said metallic end, said central panel including a first surface and a second surface each disposed so that, when said closure element is fitted on said flange means of said opening of said end and said lever means is in said second position and said end is mounted on a can body, said first surface will face outwardly of said opening and said second surface will face inwardly, said second surface including removal retarding means for frictionally engaging at least a portion of said flange means only as said closure element is being removed from said opening to thereby provide a resistance to removal of said closure device at least until said removal retarding means is free of said flange means.
Specification