Abstract:
A beaded lip protection and tamper-resistant device for canisters with caps is disclosed, as well as multiples of the same device joined together to form multiple-canister carriers that may be provided with one or more handles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Recently a new style of canister was developed for containing beverages or other fluids, the canister having an annular lip and a screw-top cap as shown in  FIG. 1 . The caps on cans and canisters of the type shown in  FIG. 1  are either screwed on or snapped on with a compression fit. Because of this, they are susceptible to being removed prior to purchase to gain access to the contents. There is therefore a need for a device of simple construction that is capable of protecting such beverage cans from damage and at the same time discouraging tampering or unwanted removal of the cap. These needs are met by the present invention. 
         [0002]    There is also an ongoing need in the industry for carriers of simple lightweight construction and easy application that are capable of bundling a plurality of such cylindrical containers or canisters into a single package to be transported, displayed, stored, stacked or sold as a single unit. This need is also met by the present invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to the present invention, there is provided a device for protecting annular beaded rims of canisters of the type shown in  FIG. 1  and discouraging tampering or removal of caps from such canisters that snaps on the top of such canisters, and that, when joined with one or more other such devices, may form a combination bundler and carrier for multiples of such canisters. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the style of canister for which the device of the invention was developed. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of an exemplary container lip and cap protection device of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an exemplary carrier of the invention comprising two of the device shown in  FIG. 2  joined together. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 3  in place over two of the canisters of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of another exemplary carrier of the invention comprising four of the device shown in  FIG. 2  joined together and provided with a U-shaped handles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    Referring to the drawings, wherein the same numerical references generally refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIGS. 2-5  various embodiments of the invention for protecting annular beaded rims and caps of canisters  30  of the design shown in  FIG. 1 . In its simplest form, the device comprises a substantially planar annular ring  10  having a plurality of downwardly projecting flanges  12  with arcuate gaps  14  between adjacent flanges. Each arcuate gap  14  is encompassed on its top side by planar ring  10  and on its bottom side by an arcuate segment  16  connecting adjacent flanges  12 , and each arcuate segment  16  in turn is provided with an inwardly extending arcuate lip  18  that is substantially parallel to planar ring  10 . Device  1  is also provided with an inwardly sloping annular wall  20  on the top side of planar ring  10  and with multiple ribs  22  joining the annular wall to the planar ring, which serve to reinforce the device. 
         [0010]    Device  1  is preferably made of a resilient material such as high density polyethylene by injection molding. Use of a resilient material allows arcuate lips  18  to snugly engage the underside of a beaded rim  31  of canister  30  with spring-like force by simply pressing downwardly in the vicinity of opposing gaps  14  to slightly deform planar ring  10  while pulling corresponding arcuate lips  18  outwardly away from beaded rim  31 , then releasing. 
         [0011]    Simultaneously with capturing beaded rim  31 , inwardly sloping annular wall  20  snugly engages the canister&#39;s cap  32  so as to thwart the cap&#39;s removal without completely removing device  1 . To release the device from beaded rim  31  and cap  32 , the same “press/pull” forces are exerted, followed by separating the device and the canister. 
         [0012]    Multiples of device  1  may be joined together in substantially the same plane by webs  24  attached to flanges  12  so as to form multiple-canister carriers, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ; for extra rigidity, web  24  may be provided with reinforcing ribs  26 . Such multiple-canister carriers are also preferably made by injection molding. As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , web  24  may serve as a carrying handle when two of the devices are joined together. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , multiple-canister carriers may be provided with carrying handles in the form of a substantially U-shaped half-loop  28 , flexibly attached at balance points  29  that are midway between opposing webs  24 . Loop  28  normally lies in substantially the same plane of the multiple canister carrier, thereby permitting efficient nesting of multiple carriers and stacking of bundles of canisters to which the carriers have been applied. But when grasped for carrying, loop  28  pivots upwardly away from the plane of the multiple canister carrier by virtue of gravitational pull on the canisters to which annular rings  10  have been applied. 
         [0014]    The device and multiples thereof may be applied to any manner of cylindrical containers or canisters bearing annular beaded rims and caps on their tops as depicted in  FIG. 1 , such as food cans, beverage cans, filter housings, bullet casings, artillery shells and other ordinance packaged in canisters. 
         [0015]    The terms and expressions which have been employed in this specification are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.