Abstract A device for sealing an opening in a container which includes a hollow plug open at the top and having a solid bottom and walls shaped generally like the opening in the container. The hollow plug is adapted to fit within the opening. At least a portion of the walls of the plug are expansible outwardly within the opening and against the sides thereof. A reservoir is attached to the top of the plug in communication with the interior thereof. The entire plug-reservoir assembly is substantially airtight and contains a fluid. At least a portion of the wall of the reservoir is formed of bistable flexible material and is normally convex outwardly but adapted to assume a stable concave inwardly position. When this portion of the wall of the reservoir is in the stable concave inwardly position, this forces fluid from the reservoir into the plug so as to cause the expansible portion of the walls of the plug to expand outwardly within the opening of the container and against the sides thereof, whereby the opening in the container is sealed.
Inventors
👤 Franklin Eugene Wharton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-31 21:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D39/00; B65D39/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A device for sealing an opening in a container which comprises: a. a hollow plug open at the top and having a solid bottom and walls shaped generally like the opening and adapted to fit within the opening, at least a portion of the walls of the plug being expansible outwardly within the opening and against the sides thereof; b. a reservoir attached in leak proof relationship to the top of the plug in communication with the interior thereof, the entire plug-reservoir assembly being substantially air tight and containing an entrapped fluid, at least a portion of the wall of the reservoir being formed of a bistable flexible material normally convex outwardly but flexed inwardly to assume a stable concave position which forces the entrapped fluid from the reservoir into the plug so as to cause the expansible portion of the walls of the plug to expand outwardly under fluid pressure within the opening of the container and against the sides thereof, whereby the opening in the container is sealed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A device for sealing an opening in a container which comprises: a. a hollow plug open at the top and having a solid bottom and walls shaped generally like the opening and adapted to fit within the opening, at least a portion of the walls of the plug being expansible outwardly within the opening and against the sides thereof; b. a reservoir attached in leak proof relationship to the top of the plug in communication with the interior thereof, the entire plug-reservoir assembly being substantially air tight and containing an entrapped fluid, at least a portion of the wall of the reservoir being formed of a bistable flexible material normally convex outwardly but flexed inwardly to assume a stable concave position which forces the entrapped fluid from the reservoir into the plug so as to cause the expansible portion of the walls of the plug to expand outwardly under fluid pressure within the opening of the container and against the sides thereof, whereby the opening in the container is sealed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the reservoir is larger than the opening in the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 2 including a seat formed in the surface of the reservoir and adapted to rest against the top of the opening in the container when the plug is inserted therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 including means attached to the reservoir for moving the bistable flexible portion of the wall thereof between the convex and concave positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the solid bottom is normally non-expansible but is adapted to expand if the pressure within the plug reaches a predetermined level so as to prevent the walls of the plug from exerting a force against the sides of the opening greater than the container can stand.