Apparatus for effectively sealing materials containers

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for sealing cylindrical materials containers such as paint cans and caulking tubes. The apparatus includes a cylindrical sleeve constructed of a semi-rigid, rubber-like material having a first open-base end, where the first open-base end opens into a cylindrical chamber, inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of which extend contiguously from the first open-base end to a second closed-base end of the sleeve. The inner cylindrical surface includes at least one annular bead or protrusion disposed thereon. The apparatus also includes a clamp for placement over an annular portion of the outer cylindrical surface disposed opposite the annular bead to compel a pressure seal by the bead with an outer surface of the materials container. Same features enable the apparatus to usefully and efficaciously seal an access opening in the materials container enclosed and clamped by same.

I claim:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for resealing a right cylindrical materials container, wherein said container includes a closed base end and an openable top end, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, said apparatus comprising: 
 a right cylindrical sleeve constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces, a closed end and an open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve to be slipped over the top end of said container and the sleeve to be lowered over the container to snugly engage the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion of said container below said top end,    whereby pressure applied circumferentially around the outer surface of said sleeve when placed over said container forms an air tight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of said container.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for resealing a right cylindrical materials container, wherein said container includes a closed base end and an openable top end, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, said apparatus comprising: 
 a right cylindrical sleeve constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces wherein said inner cylindrical surface includes an annular bead, a closed end and open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve to be slipped over the top end of said container and the sleeve to be lowered over the container to snugly engage the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion of said container below said top end,    whereby pressure applied circumferentially around the outer surface of said sleeve when placed over said container forms an airtight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of said container.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a clamp having a cylindrical clamping surface arranged about said sleeve such that the cylindrical clamping surface is disposed over the sleeve's outer cylindrical surface opposing said annular bead:  
 whereby tightening the clamp during application of said apparatus to a materials container generates a pressure seal at said bead and the surface of the cylindrical materials container thereby forming an airtight seal.  
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a clamp having a cylindrical clamping surface arranged about said sleeve such that the cylindrical clamping surface is disposed over the sleeve's outer cylindrical surface:  
 whereby tightening the clamp during application of said apparatus to a materials container generates a pressure seal at the surface of the cylindrical materials container thereby forming an airtight seal.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said right cylindrical materials container is a one gallon paint can.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for resealing a right cylindrical spout materials container, wherein said container includes a closed base end and a top end cyclindrical spout, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, said apparatus comprising: 
 a right cylindrical sleeve constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces, a closed base end and open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve to be slipped over the top end cyclindrical spout of said container and the sleeve to be lowered over the top end cyclindrical spout to snugly engage the exterior surface of the top end cylindrical spout of said container below said top end,    whereby pressure applied circumferentially around the outer surface of said sleeve when placed over said top end cyclindrical spout forms an air tight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the top end cylindrical spout of said container.    
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for resealing a right cylindrical spouts materials container, wherein said container includes a closed base end and an top end cyclindrical spout, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, said apparatus comprising: 
 a right cylindrical sleeve constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces wherein said inner cylindrical surface includes an annular bead, a closed base end and an open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve to be slipped over the top end of cyclindrical spout of said container and the sleeve to be lowered over the top end cyclindrical spout of said container to snugly engage the exterior surface of the top end cylindrical spout of said container below said top end,    whereby pressure applied circumferentially around the outer surface of said sleeve when placed over said top end cyclindrical spout forms an air tight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the top end cylindrical spout of said container.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a clamp having a cylindrical clamping surface arranged about said sleeve such that the cylindrical clamping surface is disposed over the annular portion of the spout's outer cylindrical surface;  
 whereby tightening the clamp during application of said apparatus to a materials container generates a pressure seal at the surface of the cylindrical spout thereby forming an airtight seal.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a clamp having a cylindrical clamping surface arranged about said sleeve such that the cylindrical clamping surface is disposed over the spout's outer cylindrical surface:  
 whereby tightening the clamp during application of said apparatus to a materials container generates a pressure seal at the surface of the cylindrical materials container thereby forming an airtight seal.  
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  or  9 , wherein said clamp is hand ajustable.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  or  9 , wherein said clamp is screw tightenable.  
     
     
         12 . A method for resealing a right cylindrical materials container wherein said container includes a closed base end and an openable top end, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, comprising: 
 (i) application of a right cylindrical sleeve, constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces, a closed end and an open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve, over the top end of said container;    (ii) lowering the sleeve over the container to snugly engage the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion of said container below said top end: and    (iii) applying pressure circumferentially around the outer surface of said sleeve when placed over said container thereby forming an airtight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of said container.    
     
     
         13 . A method for resealing a right cylindrical materials container wherein said container includes a closed base end and an openable top end, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, comprising: 
 (i) application of a right cylindrical sleeve, constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces wherein said inner cyclindrical surface includes an annular bead, a closed end and an open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve, over the top end of said container;    (ii) lowering the sleeve over the container to snugly engage the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion of said container below said top end: and    (iii) applying pressure circumferentially around the outer surface of said sleeve when placed over said container thereby forming an airtight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of said container.    
     
     
         14 . A method for resealing a right cylindrical materials container wherein said container includes a closed base end and an openable top end, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, comprising: 
 (i) application of a right cylindrical sleeve, constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces, a closed end and an open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve, over the top end of said container;    (ii) lowering the sleeve over the container to snugly engage the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion of said container below said top end: and    (iii) applying a clamp having a cylindrical clamping surface wherein the clamp is arranged about the sleeve such that its cylindrical clamping surface is disposed over a portion of the sleeve's outer cylindrical surface; and    (iv) tightening the clamp thereby forming an airtight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of said container.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  or  13  wherein the shape of the materials container approximates the shape of a paint can.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  or  13  wherein the shape of the materials container approximates the shape of a caulking tube.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for resealing a right cylindrical materials container, wherein said container includes a closed base end and an openable top end, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, said apparatus comprising: 
 a right cylindrical sleeve constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces wherein said inner cylindrical surface includes an annular bead, a closed end and open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve to be slipped over the top end of said container and the sleeve to be lowered over the container to snugly engage the exterior surface of the cylindrical portion of said container below said top end and wherein the inner cylindrical surface further comprises at least one additional bead, that extends from the annular bead perpendicular from said annular bead towards the opening end of the cap    whereby pressure applied circumferentially around the outer surface of said sleeve when placed over said container forms an airtight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of said container.    
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for resealing a right cylindrical spouts materials container, wherein said container includes a closed base end and an top end cyclindrical spout, and a cylindrical portion extending between said base and top ends, said apparatus comprising: a right cylindrical sleeve constructed of a flexible material wherein said flexability allows said sleeve to be placed over containers of different circumferences, and having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces wherein said inner cylindrical surface includes an annular bead, a closed base end and an open end, the diameter of said inner cylindrical surface being sized to enable the open end of said sleeve to be slipped over the top end of cyclindrical spout of said container and the sleeve to be lowered over the top end cyclindrical spout of said container to snugly engage the exterior surface of the top end cylindrical spout of said container below said top end, and wherein the inner cylindrical surface further comprises at least one additional bead, that extends from the annular bead perpendicular from said annular bead towards the opening end of the cap, and  
       whereby pressure applied circumferentially around the outer surface of said sleeve when placed over said top end cyclindrical spout forms an air tight seal between the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of the top end cylindrical spout of said container.