Reclosable Container End

Abstract

A resealable container and/or resealable container end for foods such as beverages. The end includes an opening and a pull-tab closure which includes a plug for sealing the opening. The closure may be fabricated from a thermoplastic coated foil. A portion of the foil is formed as a cup located within the opening to include a lip to engage the edge of the opening or a grove which is engaged by the edge. A resilient material such a cured plastisol fills the cup and cooperates with the cup to form a plug. The thermoplastic hermetically seals the closure over the opening and a tab on the closure permits the user to remove the closure and plug from the opening. The plug can be reinserted into the opening after removal to reseal the opening with a generally fluid-tight seal.

1 . A container comprising:
 a metal, cylindrical side-wall;   a metal bottom wall joined to the side-wall;   a metal top wall joined to the side-wall to define a container interior, the top wall including an opening defined by an edge, the opening providing access to the interior;   a film piece including a cup disposed within the opening, the cup including a lip located in container interior which engages at least a portion of the edge;   a sealant which seals the film to the metal top to hermetically seal close the opening; and   a resilient material disposed within the interior of the cup to form a plug for the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the film is a metal foil and further includes a pull-tab. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the seal between the film and opening is broken by removing the film and plug from the metal top. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the seal between the film and opening is broken by applying force to the pull-tab to remove the plug from the metal top. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the edge engaged by the lip engages the full periphery of the edge. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the metal is a steel alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the side-wall and top are separately formed, and the side-wall and the top are joined to form a rolled metal joint therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the rolled metal joint is a double seam. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the bottom is formed separately from the side-wall and joined to the side-wall to form a rolled metal joint therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the film further includes an attachment tab joined to the metal top by the sealant. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the sealant is a thermoplastic adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the film further includes an attachment tab joined to the metal top by an adhesive, the sealant is a first thermoplastic adhesive, and the adhesive is a second thermoplastic adhesive which provides greater resistance to removal of the film from the metal top than the first thermoplastic adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient material is a plastisol which can be poured into the cup and cured to provide resilience to the cup. 
     
     
         14 . A container end comprising:
 an end wall having first and second sides, and an opening extending from the first to the second side, the opening being defined by an edge;   a closure including a cup located within the opening, a pull-tab, and an attachment tab, the cup including a groove engaged by at least a portion of the edge;   a sealant which seals the closure to the end wall to hermetically seal close the opening; and   a resilient material disposed within the interior of the cup to form a plug for the opening.   
     
     
         15 . The container end of  claim 14 , wherein the end wall is formed from metal and formed separately from an associated container, and joined to the associated container with a rolled seam. 
     
     
         16 . The container end of  claim 14 , wherein the opening has a shape from a group including circular, oval, rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal wherein such shapes with corners may include rounded corners. 
     
     
         17 . The container end of  claim 14 , wherein the end wall is formed from metal, the closure is formed from foil, the sealant is a thermoplastic adhesive, the resilient material is a curable plastisol cured after placement in the cup, and the portion of the edge is the full periphery of the edge. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the sealant is a first thermoplastic material which seals the closure to the container end at the periphery of the opening, and a second thermoplastic material which seals the attachment tab to the closure end, the second thermoplastic material providing a stronger bond than the first thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         19 . A can end comprising:
 a stamped metal end wall having first and second sides, an opening having a shape defined by an edge, and a flange joinable to a metal can side-wall;   a metal foil piece including a cup located within the opening, a pull-tab, and an attachment tab, the cup including a groove engaged by at least a portion of the edge;   a sealant which seals the closure to the end wall to hermetically seal close the opening; and   a resilient material disposed within the interior of the cup to form a plug for the opening.   
     
     
         20 . The can end of  claim 19 , wherein the metal is a steel alloy, the sealant is a thermoplastic adhesive, and the resilient material is a curable plastisol.