Patent Publication Number: US-2023133578-A1

Title: Beverage can cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to covers for beverage cans, and more particularly to a beverage can cover constructed of fruit pectin. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Beverage can covers are known in the art, for covering a can adjacent a drinking opening to prevent a consumer from contacting his or her lips to a potentially unclear can surface. For example, Weber, U.S. 2003/0102313, teaches a cover for a beverage can that is made of plastic, and which is mountable on the top of the can via a plurality of tabs which mate with the upper lip of the beverage can. A pivoting plastic occlude may be moved to either seal or unseal the can. 
     The prior art teaches plastic covers which are mounted with tabs to cover a top of a can. However, the prior art does not teach a beverage can cover which is constructed of fruit pectin to cover a mouth contact portion of a can adjacent an opening of the can, for protecting the user from contamination on the lid of the can. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further advantages as described in the following summary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. 
     The present invention provides a beverage can cover adapted to cover a mouth contact portion adjacent an opening of a beverage can, and extend over a rim of the beverage can. The beverage can cover includes a cover body having a generally C-shaped upper portion that is sized and shaped to fit around the opening of the beverage can to cover the mouth contact portion of the beverage can. The cover body further comprises an outwardly extending lower portion shaped to fit over the rim of the can when the C-shaped upper portion is mounted adjacent the opening of the beverage can. In this embodiment, the cover body is flexible and formed of fruit pectin. 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a beverage can cover having advantages not taught by the prior art. 
     Another objective is to provide a beverage can cover that protects a consumer from contamination that may be present on beverage cans. 
     A further objective is to provide a beverage can cover that is environmentally friendly. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of one embodiment of a beverage can cover mounted on a beverage can. 
         FIG.  2    is a sectional view thereof taken along line 2-2 in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a carrier strip having multiple beverage can covers mounted thereupon. 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view of the beverage can cover being mounted upon the beverage can. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a beverage can cover for protecting the user from contamination which may be present on a lid of a beverage can. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of one embodiment of a beverage can cover  10  mounted on a beverage can  12 .  FIG.  2    is a sectional view thereof taken along line 2-2 in  FIG.  1   . As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the beverage can cover  10  is adapted to cover a mouth contact portion  14  adjacent an opening  16  of a beverage can  12 , and extend over a rim  18  of the beverage can  12 . This can be important because the beverage cans  12  are not maintained in sanitary conditions while being shipped, stored, and sold, and the lids of the cans can be covered with many forms of filth and waste, which a user would not like to have contacting his or her lips. 
     In this embodiment, the beverage can cover  10  comprises a cover body  20  having a generally C-shaped upper portion  22  that is sized and shaped to fit around the opening of the beverage can  12  to cover the mouth contact portion of the beverage can  12 . Obviously, the particular size, shape, and dimensions may vary, so long as they surround the opening of the beverage can  12 . 
     The cover body  20  may further comprise an outwardly extending lower portion  24  shaped to fit over the rim of the beverage can  12  when the C-shaped upper portion  22  is mounted adjacent the opening of the beverage can  12 . The outwardly extending lower portion  24  extends over the rim so that the user’s lip does not touch that portion of the beverage can  12 . The outwardly extending lower portion  24  may extend downwardly far enough to provide adequate coverage. 
     The cover body  20  is flexible and preferably may be formed of fruit pectin. In the current embodiment, the fruit pectin forming the cover body  20  comprises a structural acidic heteropolysaccharide, and is derived from dried citrus peels or apple pomace. However, in alternative embodiments, the fruit pectin may be derived from alternative sources known in the art. The cover body  20  preferably is tacky in consistency so that it adheres to the beverage can  12  with sufficient strength for the use described here. 
     In one embodiment, the fruit pectin is unflavored, and merely functions to protect the user from contamination. In another embodiment, the fruit pectin may be flavored with sweet or otherwise enjoyable flavors. The fruit pectin is biodegradable, and may be disposed of in environmentally favorable manners. 
       FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a carrier strip  30  having multiple beverage can covers  10  mounted thereupon. As shown in  FIG.  3   , the carrier strip  30  may be a wax paper or plastic sheet, or any other suitable material known in the art, which removably holds one or more of the beverage can covers  10 . The beverage can cover  10  may be peeled from the carrier strip for use. 
       FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view of the beverage can cover  10  being mounted upon the beverage can  12 . Once peeled from the carrier strip  30  shown in  FIG.  3   , the beverage can cover  10  is placed on and molded onto the beverage can  12  as shown. 
     The title of the present application, and the claims presented, do not limit what may be claimed in the future, based upon and supported by the present application. Furthermore, any features shown in any of the drawings may be combined with any features from any other drawings to form an invention which may be claimed. 
     As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean +/- 10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application. While the invention has been described with reference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to the invention.