Lid with detachable coaster

A lid for a container is provided comprising a reusable cap with means to engage the top of the container and an annular sleeve which is detachable from the cap. When detached, the annular sleeve may engage the bottom of the container and provide a base on which to stand the container. The annular sleeve inhibits rusting of the container and protects shelves and counters from rust rings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to a protective sleeve which fits on the 
bottom of a container to prevent stains from being left where the 
container is stored. More particularly, the invention relates to a sleeve 
which can be integrally molded with and is detachable from a reusable cap. 
2. Prior Art 
Many household products are packaged in metal containers. Especially 
prevalent are aerosol cans which are used to dispense a variety of items 
such as paint, shaving cream and insecticides. A problem with these cans 
is that they are prone to leave rust rings on shelves and counters where 
they are stored. 
A prior art method of addressing this problem has been to paint the 
perimeter of the bottom of the can. This method has met with limited 
success and is ineffective when cans are repeatedly exposed to moisture as 
can occur in bathrooms, under sinks or outdoors. Also, paint can be easily 
chipped or worn off the bottom of cans during handling. 
Coasters have been traditionally used to prevent containers from staining 
tables and counters. However, for permanent storage, coasters may promote 
deterioration of cans by trapping condensation and moisture. An additional 
drawback is that coasters must also be moved whenever the can is moved to 
a different location. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, one object of this invention is to protect shelves and counters 
from rust rings left by containers. 
Another object of this invention is to protect the containers themselves 
from rusting on the bottom where they are in contact with moisture. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a means for protection which 
engages the bottom of the container thereby providing protection wherever 
the container is stored. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a means for protection 
which can be incorporated into a lid for a container and is detachable 
therefrom. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention shall become apparent in the 
ensuing description. 
Accordingly, a lid for a container is provided comprising a reusable cap 
with means to engage the top of a container and a base which is connected 
to but detachable from the cap, the base having means to engage the bottom 
of the container. The container can then stand upon the base.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Without limiting the scope of this invention, the preferred embodiment of 
the invention will be described. 
Referring to FIG. 1, dispenser 1 is made up of lid 2 and a container, can 
3. Lid 2 can be further broken down into cap 4 and base 5, which are 
connected at perforated junction 6. Cap 4 has flange 7 to engage inner lip 
8 of can 3. Additionally, base 5 has flange 9 to engage outer lip 10 of can 
3. As can be seen from FIG. 1, either flange 7 or flange 9 can secure lid 2 
or can 3 while cap 4 and base 5 are connected. 
FIG. 2 shows base 5 detached from cap 4. In the preferred embodiment, base 
5 is in the shape of an annular sleeve. Base 5 also has means to engage 
the perimeter 11 of the bottom of can 3 as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in 
FIGS. 1 through 3, the perimeter engaging means of base 5 is flange 12 and 
notched flange 13. 
In the preferred embodiment, lid 2 is molded from plastic. It is believed 
that by molding cap 4 and base 5 as a single unit, only slight 
modifications in existing manufacturing equipment would be required. 
Additionally, if cap 4 and base 5 were joined to can 3 as a single unit, 
assembly of dispenser 1 would be more efficient. After purchase, a 
consumer could easily detach base 5 from cap 4 along perforated junction 
6. 
Once detached, cap 4 can be snapped onto inner lip 8 and base 5 can be 
snapped onto perimeter 11, as shown in FIG. 3. Base 5 extends 
longitudinally past the bottom of can 3. This feature prevents perimeter 
11 from contacting a shelf or counter when can 3 is placed in an upright 
position. The term "longitudinally" refers to the vertical axis of can 3 
when can 3 is stood upright, regardless of whether the diameter is greater 
than the height. 
It is contemplated that there are many ways to connect cap 4 and base 5 so 
that they may be later separated, without departing from the invention 
herein. The term "connected" is intended to refer to joining cap 4 and 
base 5 directly as well as coupling them with an intervening member as 
hereinafter described. 
In FIGS. 4 and 5, cap 4 and base 5 are connected by circular strip 14. The 
edges of strip 14 meet cap 4 and base 5 at junction 15 and junction 16 
respectively. Strip 14 is tapered at the edges to allow strip 14 to be 
detached from lid 2 as shown in FIG. 5. A variation of cap 4 is shown in 
FIG. 4 wherein cap 4 engages outer lip 10 of can 3 rather than inner lip 
8. Also shown in FIG. 4 are slight variations in base 5. While base 5 is 
still in the shape of an annular sleeve, the width is decreased. Also it 
can be seen from FIG. 4 that once detached, base 5 may be slid down can 3 
to engage perimeter 11 of the bottom of can 3. Base 5 is provided with 
flanges 17 and 18. Flange 17 is flush against the side of can 3. When base 
5 engages perimeter 11 of the bottom of can 3, flange 17 will prevent 
condensation on the side of can 3 from contacting perimeter 11. As in 
flange 12 of FIG. 1, flange 18 of FIG. 4 is adapted to extend beneath 
perimeter 11 to prevent perimeter 11 from contacting shelves or counters 
when can 3 is upright. 
In FIG. 6, another variation of lid 2 is shown. The junction 19 between cap 
4 and base 5 is scored to allow separation as shown in FIG. 7. The cutaway 
view in FIG. 7 exposes flanges 20 and 21 which are a means to engage 
perimeter 11 of can 3. For application of the invention herein, continuous 
flanges are not essential. What is important is that the inside of the 
annular sleeve which describes base 5, has a projection or plurality of 
projections to engage perimeter 11. 
While it is believed to be desirable to mold cap 4 and base 5 as a single 
unit, it is also within the scope of the invention that base 5 could be 
molded separately. Dispenser 1 comprising can 3, cap 4 and base 5 could be 
assembled in either a one step or two step promise. For example base 5 
could be snapped on to the top of can 3 as shown in FIG. 6 without ever 
having been connected to cap 4. Or, cap 4 and base 5 could be snapped on 
to the top and bottom of can 3 respectively as shown in FIG. 3. 
There are, of course, many obvious alternate embodiments and modifications 
to this invention which are intended to be included within the scope of 
the following claims.