Patent Publication Number: US-2006016820-A1

Title: Drink can lid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/590,360, filed Jul. 23, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to beverage container accessories, and more particularly to a drink can lid that can be placed over an open soda pop can to keep the contents fresh and that can also be used as a coaster.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Carbonated beverages such as soda and beer are conventionally stored in flip-top cans. A flip-top can includes a tab affixed to its top that may be punctured to dispense the beverage stored therein. Once the tab has been punctured, however, it cannot be resealed. Thus, once a can has been opened, it is easy for insects and other undesirable substances to enter the can, and also for the carbon dioxide to evaporate, leaving the beverage flat, especially when the can is left outdoors.  
      Beverage cans may potentially pose additional complications to a user. When a can is left indoors, for example, condensed moisture from the can may quickly travel to the tabletop or other item of furniture upon which it is placed and cause significant damage thereto. Additionally, when placed proximate other similar cans, it becomes difficult for an individual to identify the particular can he or she has been drinking from.  
      While many devices for closing off the top of a beverage can, or for use as coasters, or as both, have been developed, these devices do not provide a drink can lid which can be easily secured to either the top or bottom of the drink can and which serves to distinguish one can from another.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,558, issued Jun. 23, 1992 to John G. Moloney, discloses a combination can cap and coaster. The combination can cap and coaster includes a member having a support surface surrounded by a rim to form a coaster for receiving a can and for sealingly engaging a lip on the can. The rim includes a plurality of grooves which allows the accumulation of moisture from the can into the coaster but restricts fluid flow from the coaster.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,869, issued Sep. 29, 1992 to Murray J. Gould et al., discloses a multi-functional coaster. The coaster has a platform and a flange extending from the periphery of the platform. The flange is configured to allow the coaster to be used as a bottle opener, a sealing lid for a beverage can, and/or a can-opening tab lifter.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,182, issued Dec. 28, 1993 to Sidney C. Laybourne, discloses a coaster for use with a beverage can or other container, the coaster being provided with an absorbent member having a seat sized to receive the bottom of the container and a multiplicity of interconnected capillary spaces sized to receive and safely retain any moisture present or dripping from the container.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,088, issued Sep. 13, 1994 to Joseph Brimo, II, discloses a reusable cap adapted to hermetically seal the top of a standard beverage can to contain the carbonation within the can and to prevent spills. The cap comprises a flat-topped, resilient outer shell, and an elastomeric inner member adapted to mate with the entire recessed top of the can to form a liquid and airtight seal.  
      Other can covers or coasters are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,786, issued Apr. 19, 1966 to Danforth Holley (coaster cup lid); U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,271, issued Aug. 10, 1971 to Danforth Holley (combination disposable cup lid and coaster); U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,211, issued Nov. 28, 1978 to John E. Zerbey (drinking cup and support); U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,063, issued Oct. 4, 1988 to George W. Godfrey (lid with detachable cover); U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,051, issued May 15, 1990 to David H. Herbst (container lid for open-mouthed containers having a peripheral curl about the rim of the container); U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,832, issued Aug. 28, 1990 to Brian J. Tenney et al. (multi-functional space saving container system); U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,579, issued Nov. 24, 1992 to Bihari Lund (detachable lid for a beverage can with a can opening tool); U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,121, issued Dec. 5, 1995 to John R. Silano (plastic lid with pour spout, vent and snap on cap); U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,353, issued Jul. 2, 1996 to Ronald K. Ward et al. (drinking cup device); U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,797, issued Nov. 5, 1996 to Frank Yeh (mug and multipurpose lid combination); U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,558, issued Mar. 3, 1998 to Troy N. Thompson (drink lid with condiment reservoir); U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,551, issued Aug. 21, 2001 to Carol G. Miller, II (flexible cap for various drink containers having an elastic peripheral region); U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,418, issued Jan. 15, 2002 to Mark V. Derose (a protective seal for covering the mouth contact area of a can made from a thin impervious sheet); Japan Patent Application Publication No. JP 56-48967 A, published May 2, 1981; and World Intellectual Property Organization Patent Application Publication WO 02/10025 A1, published Feb. 7, 2002.  
      None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a drink can lid solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is a drink can lid. The drink can lid includes a circular platform defining a periphery. The platform has an interior surface. A peripheral wall extends from the periphery of the platform. A plurality of ridges can be formed on the interior surface of the platform. The drink can lid can have a predetermined color. The platform and the peripheral wall can include indicia displayed thereon for associating a particular can with a user. The indicia can be any desired image, such as alphanumeric character, a phrase, a quote, a design, a decoration, an emblem, a picture, a photograph, a name, a logo, a mark, an icon, or the like. A flip-top tab can be defined in the platform. The tab can be at least partially separable from said platform in order to form an opening in the lid. The drink can lid can also include a flanged lip extending from an end of the peripheral wall. A plurality of dimples can extend from a surface of the peripheral wall proximate the flanged lip. The drink can lid is configured to protect any unconsumed beverage remaining in an opened can from external debris. The drink can lid can also be placed beneath a beverage can and serve as a coaster. A drink can lid kit can include a plurality of drink can lids and a plurality of label sheets. Each drink can lid of the kit has a circular platform defining a periphery, the platform having an interior surface; and a peripheral wall extending from the periphery of the platform. Each label sheet of the kit has a plurality of labels.  
      These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a drink can lid according to the present invention, showing its use as a lid.  
       FIG. 2  is an environmental perspective view of a drink can lid according to the present invention being used as a coaster.  
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of a drink can lid according to the present invention, showing the interior of the lid.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a drink can lid according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a drink can lid according to the present invention, showing the interior of the lid.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of a drink can lid according to the present invention, showing the interior of the lid.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a drink can lid kit according to the present invention. 
    
    
      Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The present invention is a drink can lid. The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described herein below in detail are preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and does not limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments.  
      Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-3  show a drink can lid  10  configured to fit on top of a conventional beverage can  22  to protect any unconsumed beverage remaining in the can  22  from insects or other undesirable substances, as well as reducing the loss of carbonation from carbonated drinks. The beverage can  22  has a vertical sidewall  24  that extends between a circular top surface  26  and bottom surface  25 . The top surface  26  of the can  22  is recessed and surrounded by a rim  28 . The top surface  26  further includes a snap opening  30  including a punch key  32 . While a conventional beverage can  22  is shown in the drawings, the drink can lid  10  can be used for any type of container with similar dimensions and structural features.  
      The drink can lid  10  includes a circular platform  12  and a peripheral wall  14  extending from the periphery of the platform  12 . The drink can lid  10  is configured to receive the top or bottom of the can  22 . Preferably, the peripheral wall  14  is configured to engage the rim  28  or sidewall  24  of the can  22  to removably secure the lid  10  to the can  22 . The drink can lid  10  may be made from any suitable material, such as paper, plastic, rubber, metal, combinations thereof. Such material can be configured to be disposable. Alternatively, such material can be configured to be washable and reusable. Since most beverage cans are of a standard size, an appropriately dimensioned drink can lid  10  can be used on cans containing a variety of different products.  
      The platform  12  and/or the peripheral wall  14  of the drink can lid  10  can be provided with a desired color or indicia  16 , such as a design, decoration, emblem, picture, photograph, name, logo, mark, etc., that would assist a user in distinguishing one identical beverage can  22  from another. While the indicia  16  are shown only on an outer surface of the lid  10 , the indicia  16  may appear on both inner and outer surfaces. The indicia  16  may also be provided in the form of stickers or the like that can be added in accordance with the desires of the user.  
      As is shown in  FIG. 2 , the drink can lid  10  can also be used to receive the bottom  25  of a beverage can  22  and serve as a coaster for protecting a tabletop or other horizontal support surface from rings formed by condensation or by beverage dripping from the open mouth of the can  22 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that an interior surface of the drink can lid  10  can include ridges  20  to minimize accumulation of condensed moisture beneath the drink can lid  10  and thereby prevent adhesion of the lid  10  to the can  22 . Preferably, such ridges  20  extend radially from a center of the platform  12 .  
       FIG. 4  depicts another drink can lid  40 . As with the drink can lid  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the drink can lid  40  includes a circular platform  12  and a peripheral wall  14  extending from the periphery of the platform  12 . The drink can lid  40  is configured to receive the top or bottom of a can. Preferably, the peripheral wall  14  is configured to engage the rim or sidewall of a can to removably secure the lid  40  to the can. The drink can lid  40  may be made from any suitable material, such as paper, plastic, rubber, metal, combinations thereof. Such material can be configured to be disposable. Alternatively, such material can be configured to be washable and reusable. Since most beverage cans are of a standard size, an appropriately dimensioned drink can lid  40  can be used on cans containing a variety of different products.  
      The platform  12  and/or the peripheral wall  14  of the drink can lid  40  can be provided with a desired color or indicia  16 , such as an alphanumeric character, a phrase, a quote, a design, a decoration, an emblem, a picture, a photograph, a name, a logo, a mark, an icon, etc., that would assist a user in distinguishing one identical beverage can from another. While the indicia  16  are shown only on an outer surface of the lid  40 , the indicia  16  may appear on both inner and outer surfaces. The indicia  16  may also be provided in the form of stickers or the like that can be added in accordance with the desires of the user.  
      The drink can lid  40  can also be used to receive the bottom of a beverage can and serve as a coaster for protecting a tabletop or other horizontal support surface from rings formed by condensation or by beverage dripping from the open mouth of the can. An interior surface of the drink can lid  40  can include ridges to minimize accumulation of condensed moisture beneath the drink can lid  40  and thereby prevent adhesion of the lid  40  to the can. Preferably, such ridges extend radially from a center of the platform  12 . The drink can lid  40  also includes a flip-top  34  formed by perforations in, or weakened areas of, the lid  40  so that the flip-top can be raised or removed to form an opening in the lid  40 . Thus, when the drink can lid  40  is disposed over an open can, such that the flip-top  34  is aligned with the can opening, contents within the can may be dispensed without removing the lid  40 .  
       FIGS. 5 and 6  depict another drink can lid  50 . As with the drink can lid  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the drink can lid  50  includes a circular platform  12  and a peripheral wall  14  extending from the periphery of the platform  12 . The drink can lid also includes a flanged lip  54  that extends from the away from an end of the peripheral wall  14 . A plurality of protruding dimples  52  can be provided that extend from the surface of the peripheral wall  14  near the flanged lip  54 . While  FIGS. 4 and 5  show three dimples, any number of dimples can be provided. The drink can lid  50  is configured to receive the top or bottom of a can. Preferably, the peripheral wall  14  is configured to engage the rim or sidewall of a can to removably secure the lid  50  to the can. The dimples  54  act to prevent the lid  50  from becoming stuck on the can by enhancing the ability to easily remove the lid  50  from the can. The drink can lid  50  may be made from any suitable material, such as paper, plastic, rubber, metal, combinations thereof. Such material can be configured to be disposable. Alternatively, such material can be configured to be washable and reusable. Since most beverage cans are of a standard size, an appropriately dimensioned drink can lid  50  can be used on cans containing a variety of different products.  
      The platform  12  and/or the peripheral wall  14  of the drink can lid  50  can be provided with any desired color or indicia  16 , such as a design, decoration, emblem, picture, photograph, name, logo, mark, etc., that would assist a user in distinguishing one identical beverage can from another. While the indicia  16  are shown only on an outer surface of the lid  50 , the indicia  16  may appear on both inner and outer surfaces. The indicia  16  may also be provided in the form of stickers or the like that can be added in accordance with the desires of the user.  
      The drink can lid  50  can also be used to receive the bottom of a beverage can and serve as a coaster for protecting a tabletop or other horizontal support surface from rings formed by condensation or by beverage dripping from the open mouth of the can. The flanged lip  54  serves as a mechanism to prevent condensation from a can from dripping on support surfaces.  
       FIG. 7  shows an arrangement forming a drink can lid kit  100 . The kit  100  includes a plurality of drink can lids  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120 . The drink can lids  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  can each be provided with a different color. The kit also includes a plurality of label sheets  130 ,  134 ,  136 ,  142 ,  146  and  150 . Each sheet  130 ,  134 ,  138 ,  142 ,  146  and  150  carries a plurality of associated labels  132 ,  136 ,  140 ,  144 ,  148  and  152 . Any number of labels  132 ,  136 ,  140 ,  144 ,  148  and  152  can be provided to the sheets  130 ,  134 ,  138 ,  142 ,  146  and  150 . The labels  132 ,  136 ,  140 ,  144 ,  148  and  152  can be any configured in any type of manner (e.g. self adhesive, cut away, perforated, etc.). The drink can lids  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  could also be configured with pre-attached labels. Additional items could also be provided for the kit  100 , such as magic markers, crayons, etc., to enable a user to mark the drink can lids as desired.  
      The purpose of the kit  100  is to enable a user to easily purchase a plurality of drink can lids  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  for future use. By providing plural drink can lids  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  and plural labels  132 ,  136 ,  140 ,  144 ,  148  and  152  the user could apply certain labels  132 ,  136 ,  140 ,  144 ,  148  and  152  to certain drink can lids. For example, the labels  132 ,  136 ,  140 ,  144 ,  148  and  152  could include pictures of mountains, a sunset, a waterfall, etc. A user could select a waterfall picture and place it on a blue or green drink can lid as desired. The user could also select the sunset label and place it on a yellow or brown drink can lid as desired. As previously described, the labels  132 ,  136 ,  140 ,  144 ,  148  and  152  could also include other indicia, such as an alphanumeric character, a phrase, a quote, a design, a decoration, an emblem, a picture, a photograph, a name, a logo, a mark, an icon, etc.  
      In summary, the present invention is a drink can lid. The drink can lid includes a circular platform defining a periphery. The platform has an interior surface. A peripheral wall extends from the periphery of the platform. A plurality of ridges can be formed on the interior surface of the platform. The drink can lid can have a predetermined color. The platform and the peripheral wall can include indicia displayed thereon for associating a particular can with a user. The indicia can be any desired image, such as alphanumeric character, a phrase, a quote, a design, a decoration, an emblem, a picture, a photograph, a name, a logo, a mark, an icon, or the like. A flip-top tab can be defined in the platform. The tab can be at least partially separable from said platform in order to form an opening in the lid. The drink can lid can also include a flanged lip extending from an end of the peripheral wall. A plurality of dimples can extend from a surface of the peripheral wall proximate the flanged lip. The drink can lid is configured to protect any unconsumed beverage remaining in an opened can from external debris. The drink can lid can also be placed beneath a beverage can and serve as a coaster. A drink can lid kit can include a plurality of drink can lids and a plurality of label sheets. Each drink can lid of the kit has a circular platform defining a periphery, the platform having an interior surface; and a peripheral wall extending from the periphery of the platform. Each label sheet of the kit has a plurality of labels.  
      While the invention has been described with references to its preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.