Resealable beverage can end and methods relating to same

1. A resealable can end combination comprising:

a can end having a peripheral wall and a center panel with an aperture defined therethrough, and

a closure having a base plate and a top plate coupled to the base plate, wherein the base plate is moveable in relation to the can end, the closure having a closed position, in which at least part of the closure seals the aperture, a venting position in which one or more vent pathways extending through a vent hole in the base plate are opened, and a fully open position in which the aperture is exposed to enable pouring liquid through the aperture;

the closure comprising a plug adapted to seal the one or more vent pathways when the closure is in its closed position, and a biasing member adapted to bias the plug toward its sealed position,

wherein the base plate and top plate are: (i) translatable together relative to the can end from the venting position to the fully open position; and (ii) translatable together relative to the can end from the fully open position to the venting position.

2. The resealable can end combination of claim 1 , wherein the closure includes a lever configured to move the plug against the biasing member to open the one or more vent pathways as the closure is opened, and upon closing reclosing, the biasing member is configured to return the plug to its sealed position.

3. The resealable can end combination of claim 1 , wherein the closure includes a tab portion and a lever is coupled to the tab portion such that manipulation of the tab by a user activates the lever to move the plug against the biasing member to open the vent pathways.

4. The resealable can end combination of claim 1 , wherein the closure is configured such that a user slides the closure across the end panel to move the closure between the closed position and the fully open position.

5. The resealable can end combination of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plug remains located in the vent pathways to ensure correct alignment of the plug to seal the vent pathways upon closing reclosing.

6. The resealable can end combination of claim 1 , wherein the plug includes one or more slots defined therein and as the closure is moved to its venting position, the plug is moved against the biasing member to a position where the slots provide vent pathways through the center panel.

7. The resealable can end combination of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

8. The resealable can end combination of claim 1 , wherein the spring is made from a plastics material.

9. The resealable can end combination of claim 1 ,

wherein the base plate is downwardly moveable relative to the top plate when the closure is moved from the closed position to the venting position; and

the base plate is upwardly moveable into engagement with the center panel from the venting position into a resealed position forming at least one of a bore seal and a flange seal.

10. The resealable can end combination of claim 9 , wherein the base plate further includes a wing, adapted to ride on a cam surface to allow relative movement between the base plate and the top plate to enable venting.

11. The resealable can end combination of claim 9 , wherein the base plate includes one or more protrusions that enhance the inclination of the base plate upon rotation of the top plate relative to the base plate to enable venting.

12. The resealable can end combination of claim 9 , wherein the top plate comprises a tab plate articulated by a living hinge.

13. The resealable can end combination of claim 9 , wherein one of the top plate and the base plate includes at least one post that is insertable into an aperture formed in the other of the top plate and the bottom plate to prevent rotation of the top plate relative to the base plate.

14. The resealable can end combination of claim 9 , wherein the closure includes a tamper evidence structure.

15. The resealable can end combination of claim 14 , wherein the tamper evidence structure includes a rivet that engages a hole on a tab of the top plate upon application, the tab being removable from the rivet upon initial opening.

16. The resealable can end combination of claim 9 , wherein (i) the top plate comprises a cover plate and an anchor plate, and (ii) the cover plate is rigid relative to the anchor plate to facilitate flexing of the anchor plate during the opening process.

17. The resealable can end combination of claim 9 wherein a downward force for opening is by lever action of a tab of the top plate.

18. A resealable beverage can comprising:

a can body; and

a can end combination seamed onto the can body, the can end combination comprising a metal can end and a resealable closure coupled to the metal can end,

the metal can end comprising a peripheral wall and a center panel, the center panel including an upper surface, an opposing lower surface, and an aperture formed therethrough;

the resealable closure comprising a base plate, a top plate and a plug, wherein the base plate is moveable in relation to the can end and the plug defines at least one window,

wherein the closure has (i) a sealed position in which the plug seals a vent aperture that extends through the base plate, (ii) an intermediate position in which the windows form vent pathways between headspace of the beverage can and the external environment, and (iii) a fully open position in which the aperture is exposed to enable pouring liquid through the aperture.

19. The resealable beverage can of claim 18 , wherein the plug comprises a spring that biases the plug towards the sealed position.

20. The resealable beverage can of claim 18 , wherein (i) the top plate comprises a tab, and (ii) the tab is configured such that, when the tab is lifted, a lever arm is actuated to push the plug downwardly to open the windows and form the vent pathways.

21. A resealable can end combination for a beverage can comprising:

a metal can end comprising a peripheral wall and a center panel, the center panel including an upper surface, an opposing lower surface, and an aperture formed therethrough;

a resealable closure coupled to the metal can end, the resealable closure comprising a base plate, a top plate, and a plug, wherein the base plate is moveable in relation to the can end;

a lever arm configured to push the plug downwardly to form the vent pathways when a tab on the top plate is lifted, and

wherein the closure has (i) a sealed position in which the plug seals a vent aperture that extends through the base plate, (ii) an intermediate position in which vent pathways extend between headspace of the beverage can and the external environment, and (iii) a fully open position in which the aperture is exposed to enable pouring liquid through the aperture.

22. The resealable end combination of claim 21 , wherein the plug comprises a spring that biases the plug towards the sealed position.