Resealable can cover

A can cover is provided including a cover plate having a periphery with an annular peripheral lip coupled thereto and depending downwardly therefrom. The cover plate is adapted to be removably secured to a top of a can. A lid assembly is provided including a flange integrally coupled to a top face of the cover plate about a cut out formed therein. A cap is included for defining an open bottom for releasably securing to the flange. Connected between the cap and the cover plate is a string.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to can covers and more particularly pertains 
to a new resealable can cover for selectively sealing an opened can. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of can covers is known in the prior art. More specifically, can 
covers heretofore devised and utilized 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. 
Known prior art can covers include U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,132; U.S. Pat. No. 
2,764,200; U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,003; U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,379; U.S. Pat. No. 
4,938,379; U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,893; and Foreign Patents WO 94/07755 A1 and 
EP 0 454 889 A1. 
In these respects, the resealable can cover according to the present 
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs 
of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of selectively sealing an opened can. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of can 
covers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new 
resealable can cover construction wherein the same can be utilized for 
selectively sealing an opened can. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new resealable can cover 
apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the can covers 
mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new 
resealable can cover which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, 
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art can covers, either 
alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a cover plate 
constructed from a resilient elastomeric material. The cover has a planar 
circular configuration and a periphery with an annular peripheral lip 
integrally coupled thereto and depending downwardly therefrom. The 
peripheral lip has a lower edge with an inner surface having an inwardly 
extending lip coupled thereto and extending radially inwardly therefrom. 
By this structure, the cover plate is adapted to be removably secured to a 
top of a can. As such, the inwardly extending lip abuts a lower edge of a 
rim of the can. Note FIG. 3. FIGS. 1 & 2 show a drinking funnel including 
a portion of a cylinder. The drinking funnel is coupled to a bottom face 
of the cover plate about a circular cut out formed therein. In use, the 
funnel is situated about an axis which resides in parallel with that of 
the cap. Also included is a lid assembly having a cylindrical flange 
integrally coupled to a top face of the cover plate about the cut out and 
extended upwardly therefrom. A cap is provided including a circular top 
face and an annular peripheral lip integrally coupled thereto and 
depending downwardly therefrom. An open bottom is thus defined for 
releasably securing to the flange. The lid assembly further includes a 
string connected between the lip of the cap and the top face of the cover 
plate adjacent to the cut out. Finally, a thumb tab is provided having a 
triangular configuration. An apex of the tab is integrally coupled the lip 
of the cover plate diametrically opposite the cut out. 
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 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. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new 
resealable can cover apparatus and method which has many of the advantages 
of the can covers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result 
in a new resealable can cover which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, 
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art can covers, either 
alone or in any combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new resealable 
can cover which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new resealable 
can cover which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new 
resealable can cover 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 resealable can cover economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
resealable can cover which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the 
prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming 
some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
resealable can cover for selectively sealing an opened can. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
resealable can cover that includes a cover plate having a periphery with 
an annular peripheral lip coupled thereto and depending downwardly 
therefrom. The cover plate is adapted to be removably secured to a top of 
a can. A lid assembly is provided including a flange integrally coupled to 
a top face of the cover plate about a cut out formed therein. A cap is 
included for defining an open bottom for releasably securing to the 
flange. Connected between the cap and the cover plate is a string. 
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 made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 
thereof, a new resealable can cover embodying the principles and concepts 
of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 
10 will be described. 
The present invention, designated as numeral 10, includes a cover plate 12 
constructed from a resilient elastomeric material. The cover has a planar 
circular configuration and a periphery with an annular peripheral lip 14 
integrally coupled thereto and depending downwardly therefrom. The 
peripheral lip has a lower edge with an inner surface having an annular 
inwardly extending lip 16 coupled thereto and extending radially inwardly 
therefrom. 
By this structure, the cover plate is adapted to be removably secured to a 
top of a can. As such, the inwardly extending lip abuts a lower edge of a 
rim of the can. Note FIG. 3. 
FIGS. 1 & 2 show a drinking funnel 18 defined by a portion of a cylinder. 
The drinking funnel is integrally coupled to a bottom face of the cover 
plate about a circular cut out formed therein. In use, the funnel is 
situated about an axis which resides in parallel with that of the cap. As 
shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, the funnel is generally formed by a portion of a 
cylinder with beveled edges 20. Such edges terminate at a blunt bottom 22 
which depends lower than the peripheral lip of the cover plate. It should 
further be noted that a lowest point of the funnel is situated adjacent 
the periphery of the can in use. In use, the funnel functions to ensures 
the securement of the cover plate on the can such that the cut out is in 
alignment with the opening of the can. 
Also included is a lid assembly 24 having a cylindrical flange 26 
integrally coupled to a top face of the cover plate about the cut out and 
extended upwardly therefrom. A cap 28 is provided including a circular top 
face and an annular peripheral lip integrally coupled thereto and 
depending downwardly therefrom. An open bottom is thus defined for 
releasably securing to the flange. The lid assembly further includes a 
string 30 connected between the lip of the cap and the top face of the 
cover plate adjacent to the cut out. 
Finally, a thumb tab 32 is provided having a triangular configuration. An 
apex of the tab is integrally coupled the lip of the cover plate 
diametrically opposite the cut out. The thumb tab resides within a plane 
perpendicular with respect to that in which the cover plate resides. It 
should be noted that the plane further passes through a center point of 
the cover plate. In other words, the thumb tab extends radially from the 
cover plate. 
As an option, a sealing film may be formed about the cut out. Such film is 
adapted to be peeled off prior to use. It should be understood that this 
option would be included if the cover plate is incorporated with the can 
at time of manufacture. 
As to a further discussion of 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 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 modifications 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 modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.