Abstract:
The invention is a cover for soda and beer cans that attaches to the can using a tab assembly. The cover is provided with a plurality of tabs surrounding the radius of the cover which will mate with the upper lip of beverage cans with a plurality of diameters. The top portion of the cover has an opening that matches the opening of the beverage can. The cover has a pivoting plastic occluder on the top portion of the cover which can be moved from a first position in which it seals the opening of the cover thus sealing the opened beverage can and a second position in which the can is not sealed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    I. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to an apparatus for resealing a standard aluminum beverage container to maintain an acceptable state of carbonation and to prevent insects or other foreign objects from entering the beverage container.  
           [0003]    II. Related Art  
           [0004]    There is not a man, woman or child alive that does not enjoy a good beverage. Many people enjoy the great outdoors. Some have picnics or outdoor barbeques. Others play outdoor sports such as softball or basketball. Many enjoy spending a leisurely afternoon at the beach, on a boat or even going for a Sunday drive. Many people like to quench their thirst when they are enjoying such activities. To accommodate the demand for beverages in the outdoors, or at other times when the use of a glass or cup is not convenient, beverage manufacturers have adopted the use of aluminum cans as a means of dispensing individual servings of beverages.  
           [0005]    However, aluminum cans have several problems associated with their use. For example, once the can is opened the carbonation in the beverage starts to diminish. This forces the drinker to consume the entire beverage in a relatively short period of time, so that the beverage does not go flat, and become undesirable.  
           [0006]    An additional problem is that in the summertime, once the aluminum can is opened, bees and other insects are attracted to the drink and will even fly into the aluminum can. Also, smokers, in lieu of an ashtray, may carelessly use an opened beverage can to discard their ashes, or extinguish their cigarette butts. If the drinker does not attentively monitor his or her beverage in between sips of his drink, he or she may receive an unpleasant surprise in his or her mouth.  
           [0007]    The foregoing problems can all be alleviated by a properly designed cover for the can. However, there are problems associated with designing such a cover. One problem is that not all aluminum cans are the same size. Surprisingly, the diameter of the rim of a standard 12 oz. beer can is different than the diameter of a standard 12 oz. soda can. Consequently, a cover designed specifically for a soda can will not properly attach to a beer can, and a cover for a beer can will not properly mate with a soda can.  
           [0008]    Efforts to address this problem are reflected in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,074 granted on Sep. 20, 1971 to R. M. Hayes and entitled “Multiple Purpose Gripping Lid” shows a lid arrangement that can be used with containers of various sizes. This is achieved by having ledge surfaces connected to three adjacent ring surfaces. The varying diameters of the three rings allow cylindrical containers of various sizes to be mated with the cover.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,258 granted on Apr. 17, 1990 to Boyd entitled “Snap-On Lid For Opened Soft Drink” shows a similar arrangement. The Boyd patent discloses depending cylindrical wall portions of succeedingly larger diameter that allows the cover to be mated with cans of different sizes. Each of the depending cylindrical walls has a continuous small bead defining the lowermost margin to achieve the seal.  
           [0010]    Both of these approaches have the lid snap onto the can. This approach is problematic because the lids are made of a thin plastic membrane. Each use of the lid wears down the plastic and stretches the lid out of shape making further application difficult. As the lids are pulled off of the cans and applied to new cans, the user will stretch the plastic lid, and deforming the shape over time. A better approach would be to have a sturdier lid snap onto the can so as to avoid deforming the lid.  
           [0011]    Another problem with the prior art dealing with lids for aluminum cans is that they tend to employ a hinged closure member that flips up to open the cover. Examples of patents which employ a flip top lid include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,703,873; Des. 308,169; 5,088,614; 5,110,002; 5, 176,278; 5,203,467; 5,240,132 and 5,984,127. The idea is that the user will flip up the closure member when the user desires to take drink. This creates at least four problems for the user. First, the user will have an awkward feeling when the closure member rubs against the user&#39;s nose or upper lip whenever the user takes a drink. Second, the effort to flip the closure member up may become so awkward or time-consuming as to offset the benefit of the cover. The effort to flip up the closure member typically requires the user to conspicuously use both hands. This could be dangerous when driving. Third, developing a hinge for the closure member that will not break will add another cost that will be passed on to the consumer. Fourth, these prior art arrangements often either do not tightly seal the can to prevent decarbonation or spilling, or seal the can so tightly that the force required to open the closure member jars the contents causing them to spill.  
           [0012]    U.S. Design Patent No. 315,872 granted on Apr. 2, 1991 to Bixler on a “Closure for a Beverage Can” discloses a cap that slides left to right over the opening, instead of employing the traditional flip top closure member. However, Bixler relies on a cylindrical flange to hold the cap over the beverage can&#39;s opening. To slide the cap requires the user to lift the cap over the cylindrical flange, which, in turn, requires that the strap be bent up and down. The bending of the strap will increase wear and tear on the strap and will lead to the eventual breakage of the strap. Also, this arrangement requires the use of two hands—one to hold the can and the other to lift the cap.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0013]    A primary object of this invention is to provide a cover for a beverage can that eliminates spilling, and protects an open can from foreign objects, such as insects, dirt, or cigarette butts.  
           [0014]    Another object of this invention is to provide a cover for a beverage can which maintains the carbonation in a beverage.  
           [0015]    A further object of this invention is to provide a cover that is adaptable for differently sized cans.  
           [0016]    Another object of this invention is to provide a cover for a beverage can that is easy to use.  
           [0017]    Another object of this invention is to provide a cover for a beverage can that is reusable and dishwasher safe. Still another object of this invention is to provide, for use with a beverage can, a cover that can be manipulated between an opened and closed position with one hand.  
           [0018]    A further object of this invention is to provide a reusable cover for beverage cans that can be used by people at parks, sporting events, at home or while driving.  
           [0019]    These and other objects are achieved by providing a cover for soda and beer cans that attaches to the can using a tab assembly. To accommodate cans of a plurality of sizes, the cover is provided with a plurality of tabs surrounding the radius of the cover which will mate with the upper lip of the beverage can. Larger cans will mate with the lower tab, and smaller cans will mate with the upper tab. The top portion of the cover has an opening that matches the opening on the beverage can. A pivoting plastic occluder on the top of the lid can be moved using one hand between a first position in which it seals the opening of the cover thus sealing the opened beverage can and a second position in which the can is not sealed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view showing the lid of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a top view showing the occluder of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the lid of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lid.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lid attached to a can having a rim of a first diameter.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lid attached to a can having a rim of a second diameter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a lid  1 . As shown in FIG. 1, the lid  1  includes a central member  2  integrally formed with and surrounded by a flange  3 . The central member  2  is of a generally planar, circular shape and has an opening  4  which generally corresponds to the size and shape of the opening in a beverage can. The opening  4  is positioned on the central member  2  so that it can be aligned with the opening in the beverage can when the lid  1  is in use. The central member  2  and flange  3  are preferably made of a durable elastomeric material. Integrated with the flange  3  is a rounded protrusion  45 , which projects outward from the circumference of the flange  3 . The user provides upward force to the underside of the rounded protrusion  45  to push the lid  1  off of the beverage can.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 1 and 4 best show the manner in which the flange  3  is constructed. The outer wall  5  of the flange  3  is substantially cylindrical in shape. The upper portion  6  of the inner wall of the flanges between the top  7  of the flange  3  and the top surface  8  of the central member  2  tapers downwardly and inwardly. Since the top surface  8  is recessed from the top  7  of the flange  3 , small quantities of liquid or foam can be contained within the area defined by upper portion  6 . The tapering of portion  6  also makes it easier to consume the contents of the can without liquid spilling down the chin of the user.  
         [0028]    The flange  3  includes a lower portion  10 . The inner wall of portion  10  between the bottom  12  of the flange  3  and the bottom surface  14  of the central member  2  also has significant structural elements. Specifically, this section of the inner wall is stepped to provide two radial tabs  16  and  18 . The inside diameter of the flange  3  in the area of tab  18  is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the flange  3  in the area of tab  16 . As will be explained in greater detail below, the tab  18  is used to capture the rim of beverage cans having a slightly larger diameter and tab  16  is used to capture the rim of beverage cans having a slightly smaller diameter.  
         [0029]    The lid  1  of the present invention also includes an occluder  20 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the occluder  20  is integrally formed and includes a closure member  22  and a lever  24 . The occluder  20  is pivotally secured to the center of the central member  2 . This can be achieved using a bolt that passes through aligned holes in the occluder  20  and central member  2  and a nut. Alternatively, the occluder  20  can include an integrally formed axle that can be snapped into a small hole in the central member  2  to pivotally secure the occluder  20  to the central member  2 . In either case, the occluder  20  can be pivoted about the pivot axis defined by the bolt or axle between a first position in which the closure member  22  covers the opening  4  and a second position in which the opening  4  is exposed. To prevent the occluder  20  from swinging 180 degrees the top of the lid  2  has an integrated stop  33  which limits the occluder&#39;s  20  ability to pivot beyond the second position where the opening is exposed. When the lever  24  is pushed clockwise to the second position, the side edges  26  of the occluder  20  intersect the stop  33 . The occluder  20  cannot be pushed beyond the stop  33 , because the stop  33  blocks further rotation. This ensures that the opening  4  will not be obstructed by the lever  24  of the occluder  20 .  
         [0030]    The shape of the occluder  20  is also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The closure member  22  tapers out from the lever  24  to side edges  26 . The side edges  26  are connected by an arcuate end edge  28 . As described above, to join the occluder  20  to the central member  2 , an axle  30  is inserted into a pivot hole  32  in the central member  2 . The end of the axle may have a flared out section  31  which cooperates with the bottom of the central member  2  to pivotally secure the occluder  20  to the central member  2 . When secured in this fashion, the occluder  20  may not be pulled off of the lid  1 , but is free to pivot from side to side. The shape and configuration of the occluder  20  allows the user to apply sideways pressure to the lever  24  to rotate the occluder  20  on axis defined by axle  30  without intersecting with the sidewall flange  2 . Also, the arcuate end edge  28  of the closure member  22  is curved so as not to abut or intersect with the sidewall flange  3 .  
         [0031]    The closure member  22  is larger then the opening  4  on the lid from which the beverage is poured. When users wish to protect their beverages they can use their thumb or index finger to push on the lever  24 , to pivot the occluder  20  so that the closure member  22  is aligned with and covers the opening  4 , thus sealing in the contents of the beverage can. When the closure member  22  is covering the opening  4 , no foreign object can enter the opened beverage can that is attached to the lid  1 . Likewise, the contents of the beverage can (whether liquid or gas) cannot escape.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lid  1  attached to a soda can  40 . Beverage cans typically taper inwards at the top  42 , and have a rim  44  with a smaller radius then the can itself. The rim  44  of the beverage can  40  is thin and narrow. The rim  44  defines the top  42  of the beverage can  40 . The radius of the rim  44  of the beverage can  40  may vary. For instance, the radius of a beer can&#39;s rim will be larger then the radius of a soda can&#39;s rim. When the lid  1  is applied to the soda can, the rim  44  of the soda can is captured by the tab  16  on the lid  1  to secure the lid  1  to the can. The diameter of the tab  18  is simply too large to fully engage the rim  34  of the soda can, but the diameter of tab  18  permits a tight, secure fit. The user then can twist the lid  1  so that the opening  4  of the lid  1  is aligned with the opening of the beverage can.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 provides a perspective view of the lid  1  attached to a beer can. Here, the rim  44  of the beer can has a larger radius then the rim  44  of the soda can in FIG. 5. When the lid  1  is applied to a beer can, the rim  44  of the can is received and held by the lower radial tab  18 . Because the radius of the rim  44  of the beer can corresponds to the radius of the lower radial tab  18 , a tight, secure fit is provided. The rim  44  never reaches the upper radial tab  16 . Again, the lid  1  is twisted so that the lid&#39;s opening  4  is aligned with the opening of the beverage can.  
         [0034]    From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will recognize that a radial tab of the lid  1  cooperates with the rim  44  to provide a tight, friction fit. It is not necessary to deform the shape of the lid to secure it to the can. In that this tight, friction fit exists along the entire circumference of the rim  44  of the can, the contents of the can will not leak between the rim  44  and the lid  1 .  
         [0035]    When the lid  1  is secured to the can, a user may easily pivot the occluder  20  with the thumb between a first position covering the opening  4  and a second position wherein the opening  4  is exposed. This is easily done with one hand because there is no need to lift the occluder  20  to move it between the opened and closed positions. The tolerances associated with the occluder  20 , central member  2 , opening  4  and flange  3  are such that when the closure member is positioned over the opening  4 , the contents of the can cannot escape through the opening  4 . Likewise, the tolerances prevent fluid from leaking through the pivot hole  32  in the central member  2  that receives either a bolt or the axle  30  to secure the occluder  20  to the central member  2 .  
         [0036]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment is provided to meet the disclosure requirements of the patent laws. It is not intended to be limiting. The scope of the invention is defined exclusively by the following claims.