Abstract:
A readily manually removable and replaceable closure for reclosing beverage cans. The can has a principal opening for discharging liquids for drinking. The closure comprises a sealing member and a separate clamp. The clamp may thread to the body of the beverage can, and may have a depression formed therein so that a second can may be stacked thereon. The threading elements of the clamp and of the body may each extend less than half way around the circumference of the body such that the second closure may be secured by twist action after rotation of ten to fifteen degrees after initial contact of the threading elements. A foil bearing adhesive may be provided to cover that portion of the can contacted by the mouth when drinking.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to beverage containers, and more particularly to a beverage container having a reinstallable closure. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Beverage containers such as aluminum cans have become quite popular. Aluminum beverage cans typically have prescored tabs which may be depressed into the can, remaining attached to the can, or alternatively, may be torn and entirely separated from the can. Both options result in opening the interior to make liquids contained therein available for drinking. While this feature is highly practical in that it eliminates having the manufacturer not have to provide a separate closure and does not require any tools for opening the container, it nonetheless entails certain drawbacks. One drawback is that the tab, when pushed into the interior of the can, threatens to introduce pathogens into the contained beverage. A second drawback is that once opened, the can cannot be readily reclosed. An aluminum beverage can easily contain more beverage than the user wishes to drink at one sitting. Therefore, the unused portion may become degraded due to exposure to the ambient atmosphere after the tab has been opened. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides answers to the above noted drawbacks, while still enabling the beverage industry to rely upon conventional, two part aluminum beverage cans. Notably, the invention provides manually removable closures which protect the opening of a can against contamination by the likes of bacteria and other pathogens. The closure is formed in two parts, including a disc which seals the top of the can, and a twist-on metallic cover to clamp the disc to the can. This closure assembly may be used repeatedly to seal the can, so that a beverage may retain its quality after the can has initially been opened. A foil bearing adhesive may be applied directly onto the can to protect that portion of the can which will be contacted by mouth when drinking. As with the twist-on metallic cover, the foil may be used repeatedly to cover and recover that portion of the can which it protects. 
         [0004]    The can may be provided with a drinking opening without requiring a frangible tab for sealing such an opening. Therefore, conventional so-called “pop top” tabs may be eliminated from the manufacturing process. In so doing, opening the can is easier to perform and is quieter than is typically the case when forcibly removing a “pop top” tab. 
         [0005]    The novel construction is also an aid to fabrication. The so-called “pop top” with its associated rivet are eliminated. In other respects, the can may be conventional, so that no retooling is required in its fabrication. The twist-on cover is configured to accept a tapered bottom of another can placed thereon, so that cans may be vertically stacked. 
         [0006]    An important benefit of the novel can is the protection afforded from environmental pathogens, which can be quite hazardous. Pathogens which may be barred from ready access to the opening of the can include junta virus, e. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus and strep viruses, as well as the common and less virulent pathogens, as well as dust, dirt, and hand borne contaminants. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the invention to provide a reclosable metallic liquid containing can. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the invention to prevent intrusion of pathogens into the liquid contained in the can. 
         [0009]    A further object of the invention is to eliminate frangible closures for metallic cans and not to require complications in fabrication of cans. 
         [0010]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0011]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded cross sectional side view of a beverage can according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective detail view of the second to top component of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exaggerated side view of the top of the beverage can of  FIG. 1 , shown with the components fully assembled. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the bottom component of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown a beverage can  100  for containing fluid contents which may be drunk from the beverage can  100  by a person. The beverage can  100  may comprise a body  102  which further comprises a lateral wall  104  which is dimensioned and configured to define an interior  106  having a top end  108 , a bottom end  110 , and a lateral boundary spanning the top end  108  and the bottom end  110 , wherein the lateral boundary is entirely sealed along its entire extent, a floor  112  which is disposed to seal the bottom end  110 , and a ceiling  114  which is disposed to cover the top end  108 . 
         [0018]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as top and bottom refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in position of the beverage can  100 . In normal use, and when containing liquid (not shown) and when open, the beverage can  100  is upwardly open and typically in the position depicted in  FIG. 1 . Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way. 
         [0019]    The ceiling  114  comprises a drinking opening  116  formed therein for providing access to liquids contained within the body  102 . Apart from drinking opening  116 , the ceiling  114  seals the top end  108 . The body  102  comprises a first engagement element  118  the function of which will be described hereinafter. 
         [0020]    The lateral wall  104 , the floor  112 , and the ceiling  114  are joined so as to be leak-tight under ordinary conditions of use, for example, for containing a beverage (not shown), allowing fluids to enter and exit the interior  106  only through the drinking opening  116  and if provided, the second opening  120 . For example, the body  102  may be formed conventionally from a suitable aluminum alloy. The drinking opening  116  may assume dimensions and configuration of known so-called “wide mouth” openings of conventional beverage cans for example. 
         [0021]    The lateral wall  104  may comprise a neck  124  of reduced diameter, as compared to the maximum overall diameter indicated by an arrow  126 . 
         [0022]    The beverage can  100  is provided with a protective cover comprising a sealing disc  120  and a separate clamp  122 . The sealing disc  120  when installed on the beverage can  100  for the purpose of closing and sealing the drinking opening  116  is located at the top end  108 . The clamp  122  is disposed to clamp the sealing disc  120  to the top end  108  of the beverage can  100  in a manner which enables the clamp  122  to be manually removed from the beverage can  100  and manually reinstalled thereto, so that the beverage can  100  may be repeatedly opened and closed to afford access to and to protect its contents. 
         [0023]    The clamp  122  comprises a reusable second engagement element which is matingly compatible with the first engagement element of the body  102  of the beverage can  100 . As employed herein, “reusable” signifies that using the second engagement element does not distort it or otherwise render it inoperable for subsequent usages. For example, screw threads, bayonet connections, and diverse tenon and mortise arrangements may be repeatedly used without destructive distortion, and therefore could be utilized as engagement elements for the purposes of the present invention. 
         [0024]    The sealing disc  120  may comprise a structural stratum such as a metallic stratum  128  and a compressible stratum  130  coupled or bonded to the metallic stratum  128 . The compressible stratum  130  enables the sealing disc  120  to conform to the ceiling  114  of the beverage can  100  when the clamp  120  exerts clamping force urging the sealing disc  120  towards the ceiling  114  of the beverage can  100 . The compressible stratum  130  may be fabricated from cork, from a resilient synthetic resin, from rubber, and other resilient and preferably elastic materials. It will be appreciated that the sealing disc  120  may be other than circular in configuration when considered in plan view. The compressible stratum  130  may comprise a projecting portion  132  which is dimensioned and configured to enter and seal the drinking opening  116  of the beverage can  100 . The nature of the projecting portion  132  may be better appreciated as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0025]    The clamp  122  and the metallic stratum  128  may each be fabricated from a conventional aluminum alloy such as that forming the body  102  of the beverage can  100 . 
         [0026]    The clamp  122  may comprise a recess for seating the floor of a beverage can which is similar to the beverage can  100 , when the similar beverage can is placed against the top of the beverage can  100 . This feature renders the beverage can  100  stackable when the clamp  122  is fixed thereto. The recess may be provided by an opening  134  formed in the clamp  122 . Alternatively, the clamp  122  may have a recessed or depressed web or other structural panel which accommodates the bottom end of the similar beverage can. 
         [0027]    As has been mentioned, diverse interengagement arrangements are possible for installing the clamp  122  to the body  102  of the beverage can  100 . It is presently preferred to utilize respective complementing threading features formed in the body  102  and the clamp  122 . While conventional continuous helical screw threads (not shown) could be provided if desired, it is preferred that the body  102  have a threading feature comprising a plurality of short, angularly spaced apart discontinuous threading elements such as the engagement element  118 , which may take the form of a plurality of short projections  118  which cooperate with a plurality of corresponding short, angularly spaced apart projections or lugs  136  formed in the clamp  122 . The lugs project inwardly from the outer wall  142  of the clamp  122  so as to be able to engage the short projections  118 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows the nature of interaction of the short projections  118  and the lugs  136  in side view.  FIG. 2  is exaggerated in that the lugs  136  may be shorter than shown, even considerably shorter.  FIG. 2  illustrates a representative thread pitch which may be utilized. The short projections  118  may project outwardly from the lateral wall  104  of the body  102 , or alternatively, may face or project inwardly if desired. Regardless of direction of projection, the short projections  118  engage the lugs  136  to enable screw thread style interengagement such that the clamp  122  may be twisted onto the body  102  of the beverage can  100 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows further characteristics of the short projections  118 , where it is seen that the short projections  118  are separated from one another by intervening angular zones  138 A,  138 B,  138 C. The respective centers of the short projections  118  and of the angular zones  138 A,  138 B,  138 C may be arranged at angular intervals of one hundred twenty degrees. Also, the short projections  118  are located along the circumference  140  of the body  104  such that they are located away from the drinking opening  116 . It will be seen that spacing of the angular zones  138 A,  138 B,  138 C is such that the angular zone  138 A located at the drinking opening is no less in angular magnitude than any of the other angular zones  138 B or  138 C. 
         [0030]    Structural dimensional and configurational aspects of the short projections  118  and of the lugs  136 , such as pitch, length, and location for example may be selected such that the clamp  122  may be secured to the body  102  by twist action when the clamp is twisted or turned by an angular helical motion within a range of ten to thirty degrees, and more preferably an angular helical motion within a range of ten to fifteen degrees. 
         [0031]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the beverage can  100  may comprise a protective foil  144  bearing adhesive  146 , which protective foil  144  is dimensioned and configured to cover that portion of the beverage can  100  which is contacted by the mouth when a person is drinking from the beverage container  100 . The protective foil  144  may comprise a structural substrate  148  such as an alloy of aluminum. The alloy of aluminum may differ from the alloys of the body  102  or the clamp  122  or both. Also, the structural substrate  148  may comprise substrates in addition to that of the aluminum alloy. Illustratively, the protective foil  144  may include a synthetic resin layer (not shown), for example, of a resin known to preserve taste and olfactory characteristics of beverages. 
         [0032]    The invention may be thought of as the combined beverage can  100 , sealing disc  120 , and clamp  122 , or alternatively, as a protective cover for a beverage can such as the beverage can  100 . The protective cover may comprise the sealing disc  120  and the clamp  122  for example. 
         [0033]    The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. Threading elements such as the short projections  118  and the lugs  136  may be formed by deforming their associated components, and may also be formed in ways other than by deforming the metal constituent material of the associated components. Threading elements may be formed in a separate member, such as a molded synthetic resin member (not shown), which is subsequently coupled to the metal portion of the associated component. Also, the beverage can  100  may have for example molded synthetic resin members (not shown) for reinforcing the body  102 , for providing carrying or suspending handles or structure (none shown), or for imparting other qualities to the beverage can  100 . 
         [0034]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.