Can re-sealing mechanism

Abstract

Embodiments of mechanisms for resealing a can are disclosed. The mechanisms are adaptable to cans currently on the market. The mechanisms can be marketed as a stand alone (i.e., a post-purchase product), or alternatively, they can be applied by a manufacture (e.g., a cola bottling or canning company) to existing cans (e.g., during a filling stage of the manufacturing process or at another point in the process). In the embodiment, a can resealing mechanism includes an inner and outer flange configured to engage inner and outer surfaces of the can and the rivet and bent down flap portion of the can.

1 . A sealing device for at least partially resealing an open can having an opening tab, the sealing device comprising: 
 an inner flange configured to be inserted through an opening in the can, the inner flange having a generally concave surface facing generally into the can; and    an outer flange spaced from the inner flange such that, in a sealing conformation, the inner and outer flanges engage inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the can.    
   
   
       2 . The sealing device of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a movable mechanical pusher configured to receive a pushing force and to bear against the inner flange to cause the inner flange to expand radially outwardly to an expanded position.    
   
   
       3 . The sealing device of  claim 2  wherein the movable mechanical pusher comprises a button pushable from an unpushed position to a pushed position, the button being engageable with a mechanical detent to hold the button in the pushed position and to thus hold the inner flange in the expanded position.  
   
   
       4 . The sealing device of  claim 3  and further comprising: 
 a finger grip portion interactively coupled to the button such that the finger grip portion can be pulled to disengage the button from the mechanical detent and move the button from the pushed position to the unpushed position, and to thus move the inner flange from the expanded position to a radially contracted position.    
   
   
       5 . The sealing device of  claim 2  wherein the movable mechanical pusher comprises a threaded element, and further comprising: 
 a screw having threads that are threadably engaged with the threaded element such that the screw can be turned to move the threaded element to bear against the inner flange and drive the inner flange to the expanded position and to move away from the inner flange so the inner flange moves to a radially contracted position.    
   
   
       6 . The sealing device of  claim 1  wherein the outer flange is configured as a suction cup to engage the outer surface of the can and exert a suction force on the outer surface of the can when pushed to deform against the outer surface of the can.  
   
   
       7 . The sealing device of  claim 1  wherein the outer flange has a grip tab extending from an outer periphery of the outer flange.  
   
   
       8 . The sealing device of  claim 1  wherein the inner flange comprises a plurality of annular rings.  
   
   
       9 . The sealing device of  claim 1  wherein the inner flange has a threaded exterior surface.  
   
   
       10 . The sealing device of  claim 1  wherein the opening tab is connected to the can by a rivet and wherein the inner flange has an outer periphery with an indentation to accommodate a portion of the rivet.  
   
   
       11 . The sealing device of  claim 1  wherein the inner flange has a protrusion configured to abut a can flap that is dislodged to open the can.  
   
   
       12 . The sealing device of  claim 1  and further comprising a mount configured to be received within an aperture in the opening tab to mount the sealing device to the opening tab of the can.  
   
   
       13 . A can plug for at least partially resealing a can that has an opening, the can plug comprising: 
 an outer flange configured to bear against an outer surface of the can proximate the opening; and    a deformable inner flange, deformable between a sealing position and an unsealing position, the inner flange being sized to engage an inner surface of the can proximate the opening when in the sealing position; and    a mechanical element configured to move the inner flange between the sealing and unsealing positions.    
   
   
       14 . The can plug of  claim 13  and further comprising: 
 a locking element configured to lock the deformable inner flange in the sealing position.    
   
   
       15 . The can plug of  claim 14  wherein the inner flange is configured in a radially contracted conformation when in the unsealing position and in a radially expanded conformation when in the sealing position.  
   
   
       16 . The can plug of  claim 15  wherein the inner flange has a generally concave surface.  
   
   
       17 . The can plug of  claim 15  wherein the mechanical element is movable to bear against the inner flange to deform the generally concave surface to be less concave and thus drive an exterior periphery of the inner flange to the radially expanded conformation.  
   
   
       18 . The can plug of  claim 17  wherein the mechanical element comprises a push button and wherein the locking element comprises a detent mechanically engageable with the push button.  
   
   
       19 . The can plug of  claim 17  wherein the mechanical element comprises a threaded element and wherein the locking element comprises a threaded screw threadably engaged with the threaded element.  
   
   
       20 . A method of re-sealing a can having an opening tab configured to drive an opening in the can, the opening tab being connected to the can with a rivet, comprising: 
 rotating a plug, connected to the opening tab, about the rivet to a position generally aligned with the opening in the can;    advancing an inner flange on the plug into the opening such that an outer flange on the plug is abutting an outer surface of the can proximate the opening; and    radially expanding the inner flange such that the inner flange abuts an inner surface of the can proximate the opening to at least partially seal the opening in the can.