Receptacles – Closures – With closure opening arrangements for means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-06-19
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
With closure opening arrangements for means
C220S270000, C220S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247608
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to beverage cans for soft drinks, beer, juices and the like, with pull off tabs on the upper lid thereof. In particular, the invention is concerned with a sanitary lid wherein the individual drinking directly from the can does not come in contact with the outer rim groove wherein the dirt and debris is likely to accumulate.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR §§1.97-1.98
This invention is designed to provide a sanitary beverage can lid which eliminates the problems associated with can lids of the prior art. The prior art is rather voluminous but it is not believed that the specific double groove invention disclosed herein is anticipated by any of the prior art patents.
In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,815 to Klein, discloses a conical can with an opening tab at the cone apex merely for nesting purposes. This patent discloses a rather complicated conical can end with a different type pull tab. Klein is not concerned with applicant's flat end can. Further, a critical problem with this conical can is the fact that the weight of stacked-up cases will be borne by the conical neck in warehousing and shipping. This requires a very thick and strong material, such as steel, for the conical neck. Also, the design introduces stress to the crimped seal between the neck and the can body whereas in the present invention the cans are stacked on the crimped rim which eliminates the necessity of extra strong lid material and permits the use of recyclable aluminum lids. The present design also proposes a sanitary can lid which can be manufactured with conventional crimping tools
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,003 and 5,119,955 to Granofsky disclose the use of a complimentary cover for a beverage can in order to permit sanitary drinking from a can.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,270 to Main discloses a sanitary cover for a pop top beverage container comprising an elastic membrane extending over the top and axially along a portion of the side wall of the container.
In another type of container, U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,895 to Pugh discloses a container lid with a tear closure and a straw. Another interesting but different proposal for a sanitary drinking can is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,778 to O'Neal which provides an interiorally attached sanitary drinking spout within the container.
Also of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,547,059 4,407,425; 4,047,634; 3,300,081; 4,318,493; and, 5,415,313.
The foregoing prior art patents disclose various can lids and means for providing a sanitary can opening for drinking directly from a container. The unique concepts proposed by applicants herein in their double groove design are nowhere seen or suggested in these particular references.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to beverage cans and particularly to a new and improved double groove sanitary drinking can. The invention comprises a lid which can be affixed to cans with standard crimping tools. An inner groove and an outer concentric groove adjacent the outer rim are separated by an inner dividing rim. A center platform is connected to the dividing rim by walls which slope downwardly from the inner dividing rim and then upwardly from the inner groove.
The central pull tab area is approximately the same height as the height of the inner groove and is connected to the inner dividing rim at one end with an upwardly curving surface. The outer groove, which may be shallow and permits entry of a crimping tool to mount the lid on a can, is also easily cleaned to provide a sanitary can lid.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a new and improved double groove sanitary can lid.
Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved double groove sanitary can lid which can be used with existing crimping tools.
A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sanitary can lid having a double groove wherein the height of the inner groove is approximately the same as the height of the central pull tab area.
A more specific object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sanitary can lid wherein the outer groove is shallow to permit ease of cleaning and the central platform and pull tab area extend to the outer groove at one end to minimize contact with the groove while drinking.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4266688 (1981-05-01), Reid
patent: 4333582 (1982-06-01), Bloeck et al.
patent: 4394927 (1983-07-01), Zysset
patent: 4480763 (1984-11-01), Schneider
patent: 4998641 (1991-03-01), Willoughby
patent: 5749488 (1998-05-01), Bagwell et al.
patent: 5813561 (1998-09-01), Chang et al.
patent: 5934497 (1999-08-01), Chang et al.
Chang Charles
Chang Lucy
Joel, ESQ Richard A.
Newhouse Nathan J.
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