Re-closure device for pop-top can

Abstract

A re-closure device for a pop-top can is convenient to use, is plastic or metal and has an inside end, an outside end, a bottom protrusion and two opposite sides. The pop-top can has a top lid, an annular lip around the top lid, an opening defined in the top lid and a pull-tab attached to the top lid by a pivot fastener. The inside end connects to the pivot fastener and engages simultaneously the pull-tab. The outside end has a frame that holds onto the annular lip, an outer lip for removing conveniently the re-closure device and a retaining lip extending from the outer lip to engage the annular lip to hold the re-closure device on the top lid. The bottom protrusion is held in and seals the opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a re-closure device for a pop-top can, and more particularly to a re-closure device that is simple and easy to fabricate and conveniently reseals a pop-top can.

2. Description of Related Art

Beverage cans or containers commonly use antilitter tabs known as pop-tops. However, once the beverage cans have been opened, liquid in the beverage can must be completely consumed or poured into another container because the pop-top cannot be resealed. If the beverage is not consumed completely, the flavor or carbonation in the remaining beverage in the pop-top can will be lost.

Another problem with an open pop-top can is that contaminants or pests can enter the open pop-top can and pollute any residual beverage. Furthermore, the beverage in an open can may inadvertently splash out of or spill from the can, especially when an open can is in a moving vehicle.

The re-closure device for a pop-top can in the market today is complex, so the manufacturing cost of the re-closure device is high. Besides, the complex re-closure device is not convenient to use.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a simple re-closure device for a pop-top can to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a simple re-closure device for a pop-top can, which is convenient to use.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a re-closure device for a pop-top can, which is easy to fabricate and makes manufacturing costs low.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a re-closure device for a pop-top can in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the re-closure device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operational perspective view of the re-closure device in FIG. 1 being moved into position to close an open pop-top can;

FIG. 4 is an operational perspective view of the re-closure device in FIG. 1 in position to close an open pop-top can;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side plan view in partial section of the resealed pop-top can in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the re-closure device for a pop-top can in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged operational cross sectional side plan view of the re-closure device in FIG. 6 resealing an open pop-top can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a re-closure device (10) in accordance with the present invention is used to reseal an open pop-top can (50) that is typically used to hold drinks or beverages. The pop-top can (50) is conventional and has a hollow body (57), a top lid (51), an annular lip (52), a pivot fastener (55) and a pull-tab (56). The hollow body (57) has a top opening (not shown) with an outer edge (not shown). The top lid (51) is mounted on the annular lip (52) of the hollow body (57) to cover the top opening. The pull-tab (56) is attached to the top lid (51) by the pivot fastener (55). The top lid (51) is scored to form a detachable tab (54). When a person pulls the pull-tab (56) up to press the detachable tab (54) into the hollow body (57), an opening (53) will be formed in the top lid (51). The drink or beverage can be poured out of the hollow body (57) through the opening (53).

The re-closure device (10) is a piece of plastic made by injection molding or a piece of metal made by stamping. The re-closure device (10) has an inside end (11), an outside end (12), a bottom (not numbered), a bottom protrusion (13) and two opposite sides (not numbered). The inside end (11) of the re-closure device (10) engages the pull-tab (56) and has two corners (17) bent upward and a fastener recess (110). The fastener recess (110) is formed between the two corners (17) and is rotatably mounted around the pivot fastener (55), so the inside end (11) can engage efficiently the pull-tab (56). The corners (17) hold the re-closure device (10) in alignment with the pull-tab (56) and make the re-closure device (10) sliding smoothly on the top lid (51). The bottom protrusion (13) extends slightly out from the bottom of the re-closure device (10), corresponds to the detachable tab (54) and is held in and reseals the opening (53).

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the outside end (12) of the re-closure device (10) has an inverse U-shaped frame (121) with an outer lip (14). The frame (121) has a notch (15). The outer lip (14) has a retaining lip (16) extending toward the notch (15) to engage the annular lip (52). When installed on a pop-top can (50), the frame (121) holds a portion of the annular lip (52) after the inside end (11) of the re-closure device (10) engages the pull-tab (56). The retaining lip (16) is slidably mounted under the annular lip (52) so the re-closure device (10) will be held firmly on the top lid (51).

When a person wants to reseal the opening (53) after the detachable tab (54) has been opened, the re-closure device (10) can be attached to the top lid (51) and rotated so the bottom protrusion (13) covers and seals the opening (53). The outer lip (14) is pulled upward to release the retaining lip (16) from the annular lip (52) and remove the re-closure device (10) from the top lid (51) because of the notch (15) in the frame (121).

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, an alternate embodiment of the re-closure device (10) modifies the fastener recess (110) in the previous embodiment to a through hole (111) that receives and holds rotatably the pivot fastener (53) of the pop-top can (50). In such an embodiment, the re-closure device (10) is modified and is attached to the top lid (51) by the pivot fastener (55) that passes through and is held in the through hole (111). The re-closure device (10) is attached to the top lid (51) when the pull-tab (56) is attached to the top lid (51) by the pivot fastener (55) in the factory. Otherwise, the operation and features of the modified re-closure device (10) are the same as the first embodiment except that the re-closure device (10) is not removable and is disposable. Therefore, further description is not provided.

The re-closure device (10) is convenient to use and will maintain original flavors of the beverages in the pop-top can (50) when the detachable tab (54) is opened. Also, the re-closure device (10) will prevent contaminants or insects from entering the pop-top can (50) and polluting the beverages when the detachable tab (54) is open. The re-closure device (10) will also prevent the beverages in the pop-top can (50) from spilling or splashing out of the pop-top can (50) when an open pop-top can (50) is in a moving vehicle. Moreover, since the re-closure device (10) is made by plastic injection molding or metal stamping, the cost to manufacture the re-closure device (10) is low.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A re-closure device for a pop-top can having a top lid, an annular lip around the top lid, an opening defined through the top lid and a pull-tab attached to the top lid by means of a pivot fastener, and the re-closure device comprising:

an inside end, an outside end, a bottom, a bottom protrusion and two opposite sides, the inside end adapted to rotatably connect to the pivot fastener and engage the pull-tab, the outside end having a frame to slidably hold a portion of the annular lip and the bottom protrusion slightly protruding from the bottom to be held in and seal the opening.

2. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inside end has a recess for receiving the pivot fastener.

3. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inside end further has a through hole adapted for the pivot fastener passing through the through hole and to rotatably hold the re-closure device on the top lid.

4. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frame on the outside end further has an outer lip and a retaining lip extending from the outer lip to engage the annular lip.

5. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame of the outside end further has an outer lip and a retaining lip extending from the outer lip to engage the annular lip.

6. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outside end is inverse U-shaped to hold the annular lip.

7. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 4, wherein the outside end is inverse U-shaped to hold slidably the annular lip.

8. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outside end is inverse U-shaped to hold slidably the annular lip.

9. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 7, wherein the frame in the outside end has a notch over the retaining lip.

10. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 8, wherein the frame in the outside end has a notch over the retaining lip.

11. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 9, wherein the inside end further has two corners bent upward.

12. The re-closure device for a pop-top can as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inside end further has two corners bent upward.