Receptacles – Closures – Superposed closures for common opening
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-09-18
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Superposed closures for common opening
C220S257200, C220S258500, C220S270000, C220S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290084
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a snap-on rotary protective top cover or attachment for a conventional beverage container. The present invention is also designed as a final factory add-on product at the manufacturing plant.
2. Description of Prior Art
The aluminum-type can of the pull-tab type has long been the standard container-dispenser. Soft drinks, beer, fruit and vegetable juices are commonly packaged in such containers. However, none of them provide a protective cover from the manufacturer to protect the consumers from possible contamination. In fact, the conventional pull-tab type beverage container suffers at least three disadvantages that is what the present invention attempts to solve. First, most of us simply pull the tab to open a beverage can and directly drink from it the can. This is ignoring the fact that the outside of the can, including the region of the opening where the lips must be placed for drinking, is rarely sanitary. Although the exterior of the container may have been reasonably clean upon leaving the factory assembly line, dust, dirt, bacteria and viruses can all contaminate the drinking area after entering a processing chain that can include numerous commercial and personal handling. Second, a conventional pull-tab type beverage can lacks a resealing mechanism once it is opened. The problem of insects, particularly bees, entering sugar-sweetened soft drink or the like, and airborne contamination from wind-blow dust and dirt are common, particularly when such drinks are consumed outdoors. Third, in many cases of pop-top cans, the punch key that is used to separate the flap from the top along the predefined scored boundary, is usually secured to a center rivet pin and laying parallel to the can's surface. In order to lift the punch key, one must use a fingertip to hook onto the punch key's underside and pull upwardly. This is particularly difficult for people who have long fingernails. Moreover, attempting to use the fingertip to lift the key in opening a beverage can is rarely a pleasant experience, although it is not typically a painful one. Numerous attempts have been made to provide a protective cover for soft drinks in the past. However, most of them suffer drawbacks one way or another. For example, most of the prior art devices are not manufacturer provided but optional add-on products by the users; it is very inconvenient to carry along a piece of beverage can cover wherever one goes. Also, most of the manufacturers are not apt to replace the existing pull-tab type beverage can top, because it is not economic to make major alterations at the manufacturing plant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the limitations and difficulties mentioned above with respect to prior art devices by providing a protective cover for beverage cans which is more convenient, versatile, and more efficient than such prior art devices. The rotary protective cover comprises of a depressed semi-circular plate having a cutout portion aligned to the punch key of a beverage can. The protective cover also provides a raised peripheral rim to be coupled with the up-standing ridge of a beverage can, in such a way that the semi-circular dish-shaped cover can be axially rotated along with the raised circular edge of the can. By rotating along the up-standing peripheral rim of the can, the cover dish thus functions as a rotary door to provide opened and closed positions for the can's opening. The protective cover dish is further retained by the can's top surface by means of having a downward projecting filler to fill the curvature of the groove located at the inner periphery of the can. The rotary protective cover also provides an up-standing outer peripheral rim that is bent downwardly and inwardly at the can's under-edge to form a grip. Located near the center of the cover surface yet opposite to the protective cover's opening portion stands a graduated inclining hill-shaped member that functions as a pryer for the punch key of a beverage can. The rotating action of the cover dish enables the raised member to slide under the punch key, which is used for pushing the perforated closure into the can's interior, and causes the lifting end of the punch key to raise at an altitude. Thus, the widening gap between the lever key and the can's surface, which resulted from the punch key's prying action, provides extra space for the fingertip to access with the punch key. And people who are with long fingernails will find this feature particularly beneficial.
According to the present invention the rotary protective cover is generally manufactured of one-piece thermoplastic-formed plastic or molded aluminum, which can be directly pressed onto the top of a beverage can along the assembly line.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a protective closure to cover the drinking area for sanitary means.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary covered closure to function as a rotary door. In an opened position, the protective cover allows one to consume the contents inside the beverage can, and a closed position covers the opening of the beverage can to prevent insects or other forms of external contamination from entering the interior of the can.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a graduated inclining raised member on the cover's surface to assist in the lifting of the free end of the punch key in the operation of opening a can.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece constructed protective cover of the beverage can that can be manufactured inexpensively, to employ without requiring change to the present can's physical designs, and can be easily pressed or snapped onto the top of a conventional beverage yet without effecting the stackability and packing of cans.
Still another object of the present invention is to create a novel and efficient location for advertising means, where message can be easily seen by the eyes.
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patent: 4852763 (1989-08-01), Dimberio
patent: 5199591 (1993-04-01), Thibeault et al.
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patent: 5351853 (1994-10-01), Shock
patent: 5813559 (1998-09-01), Cho
patent: 6015059 (2000-01-01), Takayama
patent: 6032816 (2000-03-01), Martin
patent: 6158608 (2000-12-01), Schlattl
Eloshway Niki M.
Louie Chun Chiu
Louie Chun Chiu
Shoap Allan N.
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