Receptacles – Closures – Superposed closures for common opening
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2001-10-02
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Superposed closures for common opening
C220S269000, C220S359200, C220S805000, C220S806000, C220S521000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296137
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a cover or lid device for attachment to a beverage can as disclosed in the preamble of the attached patents claims 1 and 22.
The point of departure for the present invention is to provide in connection with beverage cans a best possible covering of the top and/or bottom of the can, so that there is no likelihood of primarily the depressed top part of the can becoming contaminated with dirt, dust or the like around the pouring aperture of the can, whilst ensuring that the can is capable of being stacked. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cover or lid device which is capable of not only sealing off said depressed top part, but also to conceal an article between said depressed top part and a rear face of said device. It is however, no intention of the present invention to provide a cover or lid which extends over the top rim of the can.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,048 relates to a beverage can having a sanitary cover which is designed to rest over the top portion of the can and the fold around the folded edge between the cylindrical part of the can and its top. The sanitary cover must in its orientation be in alignment with the position of the pouring aperture of the can, so that when the cover is torn off, the pouring aperture and the aperture generating pull means are exposed. In an automation process this will require relatively expensive equipment in order to ensure that the mutual orientation is made possible, whilst the folding operation will cause a reduction in the production rate. A similar structure is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,438,533; 5,105,964; and 5,119,955.
From U.S. Pat No. 5,131,554 it is known to provide a beverage can with a dust cover which is riveted to the pull means which is to be used to tear open the pouring aperture. The cover is thus designed to lie completely flush with the top of the can and requires a can type which is not conventionally used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,176 relates to a solution where a cover capable of being pivoted upwards can be provided over the top of the can, and where the edges of the cover extend beyond the periphery of the can top. The cover has a through-going hole for a straw and is designed to be positioned such that relative to the pouring aperture of the can, said hole in the cover corresponds to the pouring aperture when this has been opened. The object of the taught solution is also to be able to close the cover after drinking from the can with the aid of the straw.
A disadvantage of known solutions is that the stackability of the cans is affected, whilst arrangement in connection with, e.g., a six-pack, is rendered virtually impossible owing to the reduced attachment flange on the can. Furthermore, such prior art covers are vulnerable as regards accidental tearing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,163 relates to a solution reminiscent of that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,176. In this known solution, clustering, e.g., a six-pack, is rendered completely impossible owing to the fact that the cover rests on the outside of the can top and the top flange of the can is no longer accessible. The cover is provided with a tear-off means to make the pouring aperture of the can and its pull means accessible. Just as in the other known solutions, a proportional, mutual orientation between the positioned cover and the pouring aperture of the can is required if the user is to enjoy the benefits the cover is intended to give. However, a solution of this kind is difficult to combine with an automated process.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,257 describes a beverage can with a seal which is adhered or shrunk onto the top of the can to prevent the top of the can from being contaminated. The seal may consist of a circular, thin film or foil which curls up where it is torn open from one side.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,890 makes known a solution wherein on the underside of the can there is provided a tear-open pouch containing a moist wipe means for cleaning the top of the beverage can prior to drinking directly from the can.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,879,517 relates to a can, jar or the like, where the top bottom of the can is provided with a further lid or cover in addition to the real lid and cover, and where this additional lid or cover may contain an article of some kind.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,787 relates to a special package for packing several cans together in addition to a fragile unit of some kind which is not a part of the actual cans, but is hidden by the packaging. This solution is particularly well suited in connection with packing fragile articles which cannot be packed mechanically.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,824 relates to a can or bottle wherein the top of the can or bottle is provided with a cover which may contain an article of some kind.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,258 relates to a lid which can be snapped on to a beverage can.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,201 relates to a solution whereby a lid can be placed on the top of a can which incorporates a can opener key, and where the lid when turned can be brought into engagement with the handle of the can opener key.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,120,403 relates to a solution where some form of advertising matter may be provided on the actual can opener key which is secured in a conventional manner to the top of the can, whereupon the top of the can may be covered with a lid. This lid is shown having various types of design where it is possible to allow the space between the lid and the cavity of the can to contain an article of some kind.
European Patent Publication 404 734 shows a further illustration of the state of the art, where the edge of a beverage can may be provided with a snap-on drinking lip so that the person drinking from the can does not come into direct contact with the metal of the beverage can, whilst the device also enables a certain covering of the exposed aperture leading into the cavity of the can, which may be practical if there is a desire to temporarily close the can.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,497 discloses a protective, removable cover for a beverage container, said cover being a piece of sheet material covering at least a major portion of the partially stamped portion of the top wall, and is contoured to fit on the outer top wall surface inside the top annular edge surface. An annular strip of glue removably adheres the piece of sheet material to the outer top wall surface inside the top annular edge surface. A peripheral tab may be provided on the cover to facilitate manaual removal thereof from the outer top wall surface. However, use of glue in this manner is not a practical solution, nor aesthetical from a customer point of view ehen the cover is removed from the can.
An object of the present invention is to provide a solution in connection with a beverage can, whereby the cover or lip device which is to be arranged onto the recessed top surface of the can is capable of being attached in a simple manner.
The characterising features of the device according to the invention are set forth in the claims below.
However, as mentioned above, an object of the present invention is to provide solutions where a covering of the pouring aperture of the can may be combined with other advantages, whilst at the same time other possibilities have been discovered with the present invention for the use of surfaces on a beverage can of this kind.
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Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Cronin Stephen K.
Topad AS
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