Joel Lance Schaffer
Dentist in Boulder, CO

4915252, Apr 10, 1990

Mar 28, 1989

7/329912

Joel L. Schaffer - Boulder CO

B65D 3900

220307

A stopper seals the opening left in the lid of a metal can upon operation of an integral metal tab that is attached to the top surface of the lid. The stopper comprises a resilient plug having a thickness greater than the thickness of the lid. The plug includes (1) a top portion having a planar size considerably greater than the planar size of the lid opening and including a recessed area to accommodate a section of unsevered metal by which the tab remains attached to the lid; (2) a bottom portion of a planar size greater than the planar size of the opening, thus permitting manual insertion of the bottom portion into the opening so as to sealingly engage the bottom surface of the lid and including an extended area to force the section of unsevered metal up and generally against the under surface of the lid; and (3) a mid-portion that interconnects the top and bottom portions with a thickness that approximates the thickness of the lid and having a planar size that approximates the size of the opening of the mid-portion to sealingly engage the opening, including the section of unsevered metal, throughout the thickness of the lid. A manual actuator extends upward for facilitating manual insertion and removal of the plug relative the opening.