Abstract:
A beverage can cover includes a disk-shaped member with an aperture spaced radially from its center and conforming with a standard opening on an aluminum can for forming a seal with the upper portion of the can. The cover includes a plug sized to cooperate with the aperture to form a fluid-tight reusable seal, and the plug is tethered to the disk-shaped member with an integrally formed detachable strip mounted about a circumferential edge of the disk-shaped member. The tether and plug are separated from the cover when needed by tearing thin attachment means such as a web or tabs, releasing the plug from its stored position on the periphery of the cover for engagement with the aperture. In a preferred embodiment, the plug and aperture are tapered and include a cooperating groove and ridge to secure and seal the plug inside the aperture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to beverage can covers, and more particularly to a combination beverage can cover and a cooperating tethered plug detachably connected at a periphery of the cover.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    The aluminum can has become the container of choice among a wide variety of beverage purveyors. Soft drinks, beers, teas, juices, and the like make up a large percentage of the over hundred billion aluminum cans produced each year in the United States alone. These ubiquitous cans are favored for their recycleability, their low cost, and the availability of aluminum for producing the cans. For these reasons, the aluminum beverage can has largely replaced all alternative metal beverage containers in the United States.  
           [0005]    The predominant design of the aluminum can in the United States is one that favors convenience. The cylindrical container has a continuous, smooth wall that transitions seamlessly at the bottom of the can to a minor, concave base. The can&#39;s lid is typically formed separately for the body of the can and comprises a substantially planar surface with edges that are rolled with the edges of the can side wall to form a raised bead around the perimeter of the top of the can. Also mounted on top of the can is a pull-tab secured to a fulcrum, where pulling the pull-tab pries a distal edge against a portion of the can&#39;s lid until a portion of the lid separates along a pre-existing fault line created in the lid to define an opening. The force applied by the pull-tab bends the separated lid portion into the can&#39;s interior leaving an opening sized to allow the user to consume the beverage directly from the can by placing his or her mouth over the opening against the upper surface of the can. In this manner, the beverage can be opened and consumed without any additional instruments or wares, adding to the convenience of the aluminum can.  
           [0006]    One detriment to the design of the aluminum can is the exceptionally sharp edges that are formed at the opening as the metal lid is pried open along the pre-existing fault lines. These sharp edges have been known to cause accidents, especially to children who can poke their fingers into the hole and sustain injuries therefrom. A user may also sustain injuries when the user&#39;s mouth is placed over these sharp edges as the beverage is being consumed. Additionally, the surface of the aluminum can is very often the repository for dust, dirt, and other contaminants that accumulate during storage, packing, and transportation. This same surface is placed in immediate contact with the user&#39;s mouth when the beverage is consumed directly from the aluminum can. This results in an unsanitary condition that can transfer germs, cause contaminants to be consumed, and lead to sickness and disease.  
           [0007]    The convenience of the aluminum can, its availability, low cost, and ease of opening is also counter-balanced somewhat by the inconvenience of storing excess beverage not consumed immediately after the can is opened. That is, once the aluminum can is opened there is no convenient means for resealing the can to enjoy the beverage at a later time. Because many drinks, including colas, sodas, and beers lose their carbonation or flavor if left without sufficient sealing, unused portions of beverages served in aluminum cans are typically discarded rather than saved for future consumption. This leads to much unnecessary waste. The shortcomings of the inability to preserve unfinished beverage and necessity of immediate contact with dangerous and unhygienic surfaces of the beverage can are not adequately addressed by the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is a plastic overlay or cover for an aluminum can that reduces or eliminates exposure and contact with the can&#39;s sharp edges and unsanitary surfaces. The cover of the present invention fits over the top of the aluminum can and preferably includes an annular skirt that fits over a top portion of the can with an inwardly directed rib that cooperates with a circumferential recess on the outer surface of the can to maintain the cover in engagement with the aluminum can in a sealing relationship. The cover includes a dispensing port that is placed over the aluminum can&#39;s opening for pouring or drinking through. The dispensing port is preferably defined by a spout depending from a lower surface of the cover that fits into the opening on the can to provide fluid communication between the can&#39;s interior and the dispensing port of the cover. In a preferred embodiment the spout includes a beveled catch projecting outwardly therefrom to capture the spout in the opening of the aluminum can and further secure the cover to the can. The cover thus provides a sanitary, protective barrier that shields the user from contact with the upper surface of the can and the sharp edges around the can&#39;s opening.  
           [0009]    The user&#39;s oral contact with the can is replaced by contact with the cover, which is more sanitary and has no sharp edges to injure the user. The cover further preferably includes a plug sized to snugly fit into and close the cover&#39;s dispensing port to seal the aluminum can and prevent a beverage from losing carbonation between uses. The plug and tether are preferably integrally formed and connected to the disk-shaped cover at a peripheral position around the cover, such as by a frangible membrane or series of tabs. The tethered plug is separated along its length from the cover prior to use by tearing the membrane or detaching the tabs connecting the tether to the cover while maintaining a permanent connection with the cover at the tether&#39;s proximal end. The release of the tether allows the plug to be placed in the dispensing port of the cover while still attached to the cover via the tether. In a preferred embodiment, the plug is secured in the dispensing port by an annular ridge disposed on the plug&#39;s side wall that cooperates with and engages a peripheral groove on the inner surface of the spout to snap the plug in the dispensing port. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an elevated, perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is lowered perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an enlarged, elevated perspective cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along lines  4 - 4  of FIG. 3;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged, lowered perspective view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along lines  5 - 5  of FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 as employed on a beverage can;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an enlarged, elevated perspective view in cross-section taken along lines  5 - 5  of FIGURE of a second preferred embodiment; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is an enlarged, sectional plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    The present invention is directed to a disk-shaped cover for an aluminum beverage can that forms a seal with the can and provides a shield against contact with the upper surface of the can and the exposed sharp edges of the can&#39;s opening. The cover  10  of the present invention is provided with an annular depending skirt  25  that encircles the upper circumferential edge of the can in a fitted manner. Projecting radially inward from the skirt  25  is a rib  30  that cooperates with the recess at the top outer edge of the can to provide a secure seal with the can. The cover  10  is snapped over the upper surface of the can to initiate the seal, and further comprises a tethered plug  75  to cooperate with a dispensing port  70  on the cover to reseal the can after opening. The plug  75  is tethered to the cover  10  so as to form an integral, unitary construction, where the tether  20  is supported on a periphery of the cover  10  by a frangible membrane  35 . When needed, the plug  75  and tether  20  are partially separated from the cover by tearing the frangible membrane  35  while maintaining the proximal end  105  of the tether  20  connected to the cover as an anchor. The slack created by releasing the tether  20  enables the plug  75  to be placed into the dispensing port  70  for a substantially fluid-tight seal to preserve the freshness of the beverage therein.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a disk-shaped cover  10  sized to conform with the upper surface of an aluminum can. Radially displaced outward from the center of the can is an aperture corresponding to a dispensing port  70  that may be placed over the location of an opening on the can. The dispensing port  70  is defined by a wall that conforms with the shape of the can&#39;s opening and preferably extends as a spout  45  below a lower surface of the disk for insertion into the can&#39;s opening and shaped to mate with the can&#39;s opening. A plug  75  is tethered to the disk and shaped to conform with the dispensing port  70 , and the tether  20  along its length is connected to the disk&#39;s circumferential edge by a thin membrane  35  that can be readily torn to separate the tether from the disk.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 illustrates the underside of the cover  10  to reveal the spout  45  depending from the cover&#39;s lower surface  41 . The spout  45  defines the dispensing port  70  and includes an outer surface  55  and an inner surface  50 . The spout&#39;s outer surface  55  conforms with the shape of the opening in the can to create a fitted engagement. To enhance the engagement of the spout  45  inside the can&#39;s opening, a beveled catch  65  is formed on the outer surface below the level of the can&#39;s edge portion  230  adjacent the opening (see FIG. 6). The beveled catch  65  is angled to facilitate ingress of the spout  45  through the opening of the can as the catch expands radially, but resist egress. Once inserted into the opening, the beveled catch  65  on the spout  45  helps to secure the cover to the can.  
         [0021]    Also shown in FIG. 2 is the plug  75  including a top panel  85  and a side wall  90 . The side wall  90  is preferably equipped with an annular ridge  60  that cooperates with a peripheral groove  80  on the inner surface  50  of the spout  45  to secure the plug  75  in the dispensing port  70 . When the plug  75  is placed into the dispensing port  70 , the annular ridge  60  on the plug  75  juts into the peripheral groove  80  on the inner surface  50  to capture the plug and create a greater sealing capacity as compared to an arrangement without the ridge/groove configuration. It should also be understood that the groove can be placed on the plug and the ridge formed on the inner surface  50  without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 in plan view. The dispensing port  70  is shaped as a flattened crescent to conform with the standard opening of the most prevalent models of aluminum can. Attached to a peripheral edge of the cover is the tether  20  that in turn is attached to the plug  75  sized to mate with the dispensing port  70 . The tether  20  is preferably connected to the disk-shaped member by a thin frangible membrane  35  along a length of the tether. The proximal end  105  of the tether  20  is integrally formed with the cover to form a permanent connection, and the distal end  120  of the tether  20  is integrally formed with the plug  75  to form another permanent connection. The length of the tether is approximately one hundred eighty degrees of arc of the disk, measured at the periphery of the cover, although the length of the tether can obviously vary. In a preferred embodiment, the plug  75  may also be connected to the cover  10  by a frangible membrane  35  as shown.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged, cross-sectional views of the cover showing the various details of the spout  45 , cover  10 , and plug  75 . The cover includes a skirt  25  depending from the circumferential lip  100  to encircle the top portion of an aluminum can. The skirt  25  includes an inwardly directed annular rib  30  that engages a recess on the aluminum can just below the raised bead  205  to grip the can. The raised bead is accommodated by a notch  95  formed in the cover at the juncture of the skirt and the circumferential lip  100 . The shape of the plug  75  and the peripheral groove  80  on the side wall  90  are illustrated in FIG. 4. The annular ridge  60  shown in FIG. 5 cooperates with the peripheral groove  80  when the plug  75  is inserted into the dispensing port  70  to snap the plug in position and enhance the sealing function of the plug  75 . The plug  75  can also be tapered to correspond with a matching taper in the dispensing port  70  as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 illustrates the interaction of the cover  10  on an aluminum can  200 . The can includes a raised bead  205  that is received by the notch  95  of the cover, and the rib  30  fits into the annular recess just below the raised bead  205 . A well  210  is formed around the upper edge of the can to capture any spilled beverage. This well  210  often collects dirt and contaminants, and the present invention overlays the well  210  to preclude oral contact by the user with the well and its surrounding area. The can includes a pull-tab  215  that functions as a lever, and is attached to a fulcrum  225 . By raising the pull-tab  215 , a portion thereof is forced against a portion of the lid until said portion  220  is displaced along a pre-existing fault line such that it is bent backwards into the interior of the can as shown in FIG. 6. The displacement of this portion  220  creates an opening in the top of the can used to pour beverage therefrom.  
         [0025]    When the cover  10  is placed over the can  200 , the spout  45  is placed into the opening of the can. The beveled catch engages the edge  230  of the can as the spout  45  slides into the can&#39;s opening, ultimately passing through the opening to trap the spout  45  inside the can. The cover encircles the outer upper portion of the can as the skirt  45  engages and cooperates with the raised bead  205  and the recess to form a seal with the can. The cover overlays the upper surface of the can to insulate the can&#39;s surface from the user. The dispensing port  70  replaces the can&#39;s opening as the location for pouring and drinking the beverage, where the surface of the cover is more easily controlled and sanitized in comparison with the upper surface of the can. As further shown in FIG. 6, the plug  75  can be inserted into the dispensing port  70  to close and seal the passage. As the tapered plug is lowered into the dispensing port, an annular ridge on the inner surface  50  of the spout  45  contacts the side wall  90  of the plug  75 , providing some resistance against the plug. At the predetermined location, the annular ridge  60  encounters the peripheral groove  80  on the side wall  90  to position the plug in the dispensing port  70 . The mating of the groove and ridge further enhance the fluidic seal of the plug and thereby resists spillage of the beverage when the plug is so located.  
         [0026]    In an alternative embodiment, the spout  45  can include a mesh or screen  115  as shown in FIG. 8. The screen is suited for keeping bees and other insects out of the can should the can be left unattended, and also provides a measure of safety when pull-tabs are deposited into the can. A pull-tab can be accidentally ingested and cause choking if placed inside the beverage can while beverage remains in the can. The protective screen  115  of FIG. 8 precludes any object larger than the mesh or screen opening from passing from the can&#39;s interior to the consumer.  
         [0027]    In another alternative embodiment, the frangible membrane  35  can be replaced by a series of breakable tabs  110  as shown in FIG. 7. The tabs are easily torn as the tether  20  is pulled away from the cover to release the tethered plug  75 .  
         [0028]    The cover of the present invention when placed over a beverage can insulates the user from the surface of the can and the sharp edges formed when the can is opened. The dispensing port  70  of the cover replaces the can&#39;s opening as the location where beverage is poured or drank from. The spout  45  provides a conduit to the can&#39;s interior where beverage can flow through to the user, and a locking beveled catch on the spout secures the spout to the edge of the can&#39;s opening. A plug  75  is provided to cooperate with the dispensing port  70  and seal the beverage can after opening to preserve the freshness and carbonation of the beverage. The cover is easily sanitized or may be considered a disposable item for single use. The location of the plug along the cover&#39;s periphery facilitates stacking, shipping, and packaging and leads to a more efficient design. The tear-away tether assures that the cover and plug combination will retain its planar configuration until the plug is required. The plug also includes a complimentary groove to the annular ridge of the spout to fix the plug inside the spout and promote resistance to spillage. The seal may be enhanced by tapering the plug  75  to match a corresponding taper in the dispensing port  70 .  
         [0029]    The description of the preferred embodiments are illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art can deviate from the just-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the descriptions above, but rather the scope of the invention is defined solely by the words of the claims presented below.