Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and a device to seal and insulate a beverage can while providing a screw-on cap for convenient dispensing experience and minimizing carbonation loss in case the beverage is carbonated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The field of the invention relates to beverage dispensers in general and more particularly to insulating and dispensing methods and devices for beverage cans. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Beverage cans are commonly sold with variety of liquid contents including but not limited to tea, coffee, juice, soft drink and beer. 
         [0005]    Many prefer to have cold drinks out of the can. However, if the content of the chilled can is not consumed in a short period of time, it gets warm and will no longer be desired. 
         [0006]    Since the wide-mouth of the can remains open, there is a chance of spillage and in case the liquid content of the can is carbonated, the carbonation is lost very rapidly, resulting in less desired or undesired drink and consequently it goes to waste. 
         [0007]    The present invention provides insulation for the entire beverage can to keep the liquid content cold for a longer period of time. Furthermore, it prevents possible spillage by providing a screw-on cap. In case the beverage is carbonated, the carbonation loss is minimized. A built-in tab-lifter is also provided for convenience. 
       SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A primary object of the invention is to insulate the content of a beverage can and keep it cold for a longer period of time while providing a convenient and practical method and device to initially open the can, then dispense the beverage and re-seal the content for as many times as desired. 
         [0009]    A second object of the invention is to eliminate possible spillage and minimize the carbonation loss for carbonated drinks by providing a sealed container. 
         [0010]    A further object of the invention is to conveniently open a beverage can by providing a built-in tab-lifter on the device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1 . Fully assembled device 
           [0012]      FIG. 2 . Tab-lifter in use 
           [0013]      FIG. 3 . Container and lid 
           [0014]      FIG. 4 . Lid cross section 
           [0015]      FIG. 5 . Disassembled lid 
           [0016]      FIG. 6 . Round inner piece 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Method 
       [0017]    The device, whose functionality is explained below, is designed based on an inspiration by double-wall containers. In this method, a transparent (or translucent) container with one wall or multiple walls made from low heat conductivity material (or materials), hosts a beverage can while its inner wall remains slightly away from the heat conductive wall of the can. The additional walls, and the trapped air between the container and the can provide insulation for the beverage can. 
         [0018]    The beverage can is lowered into the insulating container, the tab is lifted up to open the wide-mouth on the top of the can and an insulating lid is screwed on the top of the container to create a seal, keep the can in place and provide an alternate dispensing method. 
       2. Device 
       [0019]    The two main components of the invention are an insulating container  10 , and a screw-on lid  20 . The container is transparent (or translucent) and its inner diameter is slightly more than the diameter of the beverage can  40 . The bottom of the container  10  conforms to the bottom of the can  40  in such way to keep it right at the middle of the container  10  with minimal contact. 
         [0020]    The beverage can  40  is visible through the transparent (translucent) container  10 . The container  10  has threads  11  at the top where the threaded lid  20  would be screwed on it. 
         [0021]    The lid  20  is composed of four different pieces: a threaded outer ring  21 , a round inner piece  23 , a screw-on cap  25  and a gasket  30 . 
         [0022]    The threaded ring  21  has a tab-lifter  22  on the outer skirt to facilitate lifting up the tab  42  and conveniently open the beverage can  40 . 
         [0023]    The threads  31  on the ring  21  match the threads  11  on the container  10 . The outer ring  21  is screwed on the container  10  while the round inner piece  23  remains with no circular motion and is pushed down by the ring  21  on the top of the beverage can  40 . The round inner piece  23  eventually sits tightly on the top of the can  40 , its opening  24  aligns with the wide-mouth opening  41  of the beverage can  40 , and the tab  42  is positioned under the cavity  28 . 
         [0024]    The round inner piece  23  has a threaded opening  24  where the cap  25  is screwed on the top. When the device is fully assembled, the cap  25  is un-screwed for dispensing and screwed back on to re-seal. The round inner piece  23  also has one or multiple holders  29  on the top to keep the threaded ring  21  attached to the round inner piece  23  while allowing it to turn freely and independently. 
         [0025]    A gasket  30  is placed in the round groove  26  of the round inner piece  23  and is aligned with the top rim  43  of the beverage can  40  where it creates a seal as the lid  20  is tightened on the container  10 . 
         [0026]    There are two short rods  27  in the bottom of the round inner piece  23 , which are in charge of keeping the piece&#39;s opening  24  aligned with the wide-mouth opening  41  of the can  40 . The threaded ring  21  reaches the container threads  11  only when both rods  27  are inside the wide-mouth opening  41  of the beverage can  40 . They remain inside the opening  41  and maintain the alignment while the ring  21  is being tightened on the container  10  and consequently the gasket  30  sits tightly on the top rim  43  of the can  40  to create a seal.