Sealing device for opened cans

A sealing device for opened cans including an elongated strip dimensioned for placement over the top of and engaging a rim of the beverage can. A plug is secured to a lower surface of the elongated strip inwardly of one of opposing end portions of the elongated strip whereby when the elongated strip is secured to the top of the beverage can, the plug is sealingly disposed over an opening in the top thereby precluding the unwanted escape of carbonation from the liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a sealing device for opened cans and more 
particularly pertains to preserving carbonation and preventing spillage 
with a sealing device for opened cans. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of container covers is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
container covers heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of 
covering containers are known to consist basically of familiar, expected 
and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of 
designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for 
the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,163 to Diaz discloses a hygienic 
seal and cover for food and drink containers. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,258 to Boyd et al. discloses a snap-on lid for opened 
soft drink cans. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,278 to Quarberg discloses a beverage can resealing 
device. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,252 to Schaffer discloses a beverage can stopper. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,051 to Herbet discloses a push and drink lid with pour 
spout. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a sealing device 
for opened cans for preserving carbonation and preventing spillage. 
In this respect, the sealing device for opened cans according to the 
present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and 
designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of preserving carbonation and preventing 
spillage. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved sealing device for opened cans which can be used for 
preserving carbonation and preventing spillage. In this regard, the 
present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
container covers now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved sealing device for opened cans. As such, the general 
purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in 
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved sealing device for opened 
cans and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of 
the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an elongated 
strip having opposing end portions and a central extent. The elongated 
strip has a width gradually increasing from the central extent outwardly 
to the opposing end portions. The opposing end portions each have inwardly 
curved lips having a generally U-shaped cross-section. The elongated strip 
has a width essentially equal to a diameter of a top of a cylindrical 
beverage can. The elongated strip is dimensioned for placement over the 
top of the beverage can with the inwardly curved lips snapidly engaging a 
rim of the top of the beverage can. The device includes a rubber plug 
having a generally circular configuration. The plug has an upper surface 
and a lower surface. The plug is secured to a lower surface of the 
elongated strip inwardly of one of the opposing end portions whereby when 
the elongated strip is secured to the top of the beverage can, the plug is 
sealingly disposed over an opening in the top. A lifting tab is integrally 
formed with and extending outwardly from one of the inwardly curved lips 
adjacent to the rubber plug. The lifting tab facilitates engagement and 
disengagement of the device from the beverage can. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved sealing device for opened cans which has all the advantages of 
the prior art container covers and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
sealing device for opened cans which may be easily and efficiently 
manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved sealing device for opened cans which is of durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved sealing device for opened cans which is susceptible of a low cost 
of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which 
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming 
public, thereby making such a sealing device for opened cans economically 
available to the buying public. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved sealing device for opened cans for preserving carbonation and 
preventing spillage. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved sealing device for opened cans including an elongated strip 
dimensioned for placement over the top of and engaging a rim of the 
beverage can. A plug is secured to a lower surface of the elongated strip 
inwardly of one of opposing end portions of the elongated strip whereby 
when the elongated strip is secured to the top of the beverage can, the 
plug is sealingly disposed over an opening in the top thereby precluding 
the unwanted escape of carbonation from the liquid. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. 1 through 6 
thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved sealing device 
for opened cans embodying the principles and concepts of the present 
invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be 
described. 
Specifically, it will be noted in the various Figures that the device 
relates to a sealing device for opened cans for preserving carbonation and 
preventing spillage. In its broadest context, the device consists of an 
elongated strip, a rubber plug and a lifting tab. Such components are 
individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to 
attain the desired objective. 
The device 10 includes an elongated strip 12 having opposing end portions 
14 and a central extent 16. The elongated strip 12 has a width gradually 
increasing from the central extent 16 outwardly to the opposing end 
portions 14. The opposing end portions 14 each have inwardly curved lips 
18 having a generally U-shaped cross-section. The elongated strip 12 has a 
width essentially equal to a diameter of a top 20 of a cylindrical 
beverage can 22. The elongated strip 12 is dimensioned for placement over 
the top 20 of the beverage can 22 with the inwardly curved lips 18 
snapidly engaging a rim 24 of the top 20 of the beverage can 22. The 
elongated strip 12 is preferably fabricated of a metal or plastic 
material. 
In association with the elongated strip 12, the device 10 includes a rubber 
plug 26. The rubber plug 26 has a generally circular configuration. The 
plug 26 has an upper surface 28 and a lower surface 30. The plug 26 is 
secured to a lower surface 30 of the elongated strip 12 inwardly of one of 
the opposing end portions 14 whereby when the elongated strip 12 is 
secured to the top 20 of the beverage can 22, the plug 26 is sealingly 
disposed over an opening in the top 22. The rubber plug 26 serves to 
contain the carbonation within the can 22 and also prevents spillage. 
A lifting tab 32 is integrally formed with and extends outwardly from one 
of the inwardly curved lips 18 adjacent to the rubber plug 26. The lifting 
tab 32 facilitates engagement and disengagement of the device 10 from the 
beverage can 22. The lifting tab 32 is fabricated of a material consistent 
with the fabrication of the elongated strip 12. 
The device 10 is a snap-on sealing device to use on opened aluminum 
beverage cans to help preserve carbonation and prevent spills. 
The device 10 is a clip or strip 12 of metal or plastic with a synthetic 
rubber seal 26 attached that is made to fit into the opening of the can 
22. The elongated strips features a curved lip 18 at one side that grabs 
one edge of the can 22 and an opposing curved lip 18 that will flex 
sufficiently to slip down over the opposite edge of the can 22 and secure 
the device 10 with spring pressure. 
The device 10 can also be imprinted with indicia across an upper surface of 
the elongated strip 12. Such indicia could include corporate logos or 
slogans for advertising or promotional purposes. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the 
manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and 
obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to 
those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.