US3913779A — Can closure device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 325 words

A can closure device for sealing a teardrop shaped opening in the top of a cylindrical can extending radially outward from the center of the top to the rim comprising: a. a one piece resilient plug comprising a main body portion and an integral securing portion extending upward from said main body portion, said main body portion having a teardrop shaped bottom wall sized smaller than the size of the teardrop shaped opening in the can, an upper surface and side walls tapering upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall to the upper surface, and a flange sized larger than the teardrop shaped opening in the can, said securing portion comprising a shoulder section formed on the upper surface of the main body portion, a collar section formed on the shoulder section and an annular shaped section formed over the collar section, said annular shaped section having a top; and b. a one piece elongated resilient spring clip having a sleeve portion engaging the collar section of said plug, an intermediate section coupled to said sleeve portion and extending over and having a downwardly extending portion in contact with at least one point of the top of the annular section of said plug and outwardly extending and upwardly sloping front and rear sections of unequal length coupled to said sleeve, each section being in contact with at least one point on the shoulder section of the plug on opposite sides of the collar section, one section having a hook at one end and the other section having a clamp and finger grasping tip at the end for engaging opposite points of the edges of said can, the length of each section being such that the sealing portion of the plug is forced into airtight sealing engagement with the opening in the end wall of said can when the clamp and the hook at the respective ends are in engagement with opposite edges of the can.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 325 words

A can closure device for sealing a teardrop shaped opening in the top of a cylindrical can extending radially outward from the center of the top to the rim comprising: a. a one piece resilient plug comprising a main body portion and an integral securing portion extending upward from said main body portion, said main body portion having a teardrop shaped bottom wall sized smaller than the size of the teardrop shaped opening in the can, an upper surface and side walls tapering upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall to the upper surface, and a flange sized larger than the teardrop shaped opening in the can, said securing portion comprising a shoulder section formed on the upper surface of the main body portion, a collar section formed on the shoulder section and an annular shaped section formed over the collar section, said annular shaped section having a top; and b. a one piece elongated resilient spring clip having a sleeve portion engaging the collar section of said plug, an intermediate section coupled to said sleeve portion and extending over and having a downwardly extending portion in contact with at least one point of the top of the annular section of said plug and outwardly extending and upwardly sloping front and rear sections of unequal length coupled to said sleeve, each section being in contact with at least one point on the shoulder section of the plug on opposite sides of the collar section, one section having a hook at one end and the other section having a clamp and finger grasping tip at the end for engaging opposite points of the edges of said can, the length of each section being such that the sealing portion of the plug is forced into airtight sealing engagement with the opening in the end wall of said can when the clamp and the hook at the respective ends are in engagement with opposite edges of the can.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 254 words

A reusable can closure device particularly adapted for use in sealing openings found in the top of a cylindrical can, which can has a cylindrical side wall and a circular rim, said closure comprising: a. a resilient deformable plug having a generally teardrop shape and including a main body portion sized larger than the opening area of the can top, and a neck portion extending upward from the main body portion, the neck portion having a top surface and upwardly tapered back and front walls, the main body portion having a bottom side, and a generally teardrop shaped platform; b. an elongated resilient spring clip adapted to be removably hooked onto the can rim at one end and clamped onto the rim at the other end, said clip being a one piece metallic member, the intermediate section thereof being shaped to form a dovetail sloT for receiving and holding in tight fitting relationship the neck of the plug, the dovetail slot including upwardly tapered front and back walls coreacting with said neck portion of the plug, and a top wall cooperating with the top surface of the neck portion of the plug to prevent sidewise movement of the plug relative to the clip, and having a front section sloping downwardly with the horizontal, and a reverse curved portion forming a clamp and then terminating in downward and outward extending finger grasping tip, and the rear section terminating in a downward and outward curve portion forming a hook, the clamp being lower than the hook.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 254 words

A reusable can closure device particularly adapted for use in sealing openings found in the top of a cylindrical can, which can has a cylindrical side wall and a circular rim, said closure comprising: a. a resilient deformable plug having a generally teardrop shape and including a main body portion sized larger than the opening area of the can top, and a neck portion extending upward from the main body portion, the neck portion having a top surface and upwardly tapered back and front walls, the main body portion having a bottom side, and a generally teardrop shaped platform; b. an elongated resilient spring clip adapted to be removably hooked onto the can rim at one end and clamped onto the rim at the other end, said clip being a one piece metallic member, the intermediate section thereof being shaped to form a dovetail sloT for receiving and holding in tight fitting relationship the neck of the plug, the dovetail slot including upwardly tapered front and back walls coreacting with said neck portion of the plug, and a top wall cooperating with the top surface of the neck portion of the plug to prevent sidewise movement of the plug relative to the clip, and having a front section sloping downwardly with the horizontal, and a reverse curved portion forming a clamp and then terminating in downward and outward extending finger grasping tip, and the rear section terminating in a downward and outward curve portion forming a hook, the clamp being lower than the hook.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The can closure as in claim 2 wherein the top surface of the plug neck has a pair of ribs thereon to cooperate with the clip top wall.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The can closure of claim 2 further including tab means extending out from the top wall of the clip.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The closure of claim 2 wherein the plug is a one piece body of elastomeric material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The closure of claim 2 wherein the plug is a porous material covered with a layer of elastomer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

The can closure of claim 3 wherein the plug is a one piece body of elastomeric material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-10-20	1979-04-21	1979-10-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-10-20	1983-04-21	1983-10-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-10-20	1987-04-21	1987-10-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Can closure device

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