Abstract:
A device for sealing an open beverage can employs a cap and clamping jaws articulated from the cap which lock into the top lid of the can to push the can into secure contact with the cap. The cap may include a turret and straw for drinking from the can without removing the cap. Insulating sleeves to keep the beverage cold may be part of the cap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention is directed to devices for resealing containers of carbonated beverages and, optionally, retarding their warming. 
     2. Background in Prior Art 
     Carbonated beverages are extremely popular worldwide and the containers in which they are provided have become standardized. A typical can holds 355 ml (12 fl.oz.), has as a top with a diameter of approximately 550 mm and includes a depressed area having a frangible region adjacent a “pop top” lever which opens the can by pushing the frangible section into the can. Opening releases some of the carbon dioxide dissolved in the beverage and allows the liquid to be poured into a container or, alternatively, the beverage may be drunk directly from the container or through a straw. 
     A persistent problem when the cans contain soda pop and the consumers are pre-adolescent children is that, before the contents are consumed, the can is either spilled or the carbonation is lost. When the product is spilled it cannot be drunk and when the product loses carbonation, typically with attendant warming, it will not be drunk. As a result, there is a need for a simple, convenient, and inexpensive device which allows a conventional can of carbonated beverage to be resealed for further use, which is spill-proof but still allows the product to be accessible and which is economically effective. 
     Numerous attempts have been made to address this problem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,804 to Pease discloses a beverage can resealer which uses a cam-actuated foot inserted through the pouring hole to hold a covering body over the top. U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,103 to Goldberg employs a cam-locked lever also utilizing a component which presses against the undersurface of the can lid. Both of the above-mentioned references require that the sealing apparatus be removed before beverage can be removed from the container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,909 to Pino et al. discloses a snap-on cap to be pressed over the top of a beverage can and includes a straw and a tubular lever with a valve at its base which allows someone to draw liquid through the straw when the lever is in the open position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,964 to Heath discloses a snap-on cap for a beverage can which serves to reseal the container but which must be removed before the contents may be poured. U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,002 to Tucker discloses a snap-on cap fitted with a separate cover which may be located over the opening in the top of the can and includes a screen to keep out flying insects, especially bees. U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,467 to Tucker discloses a variant of the above having a different snapping arrangement to retain the cover. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,079 to Stephens et al. discloses a spout and straw similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,909 to Pino et al. improved by the presence of a vent which is opened with the rotating spout to prevent spurting of the beverage due to pressure increases in the can on warming. U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,904 to Close discloses a variant of the Tucker patents which snaps onto the top surface of the can. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,818 to Youst discloses a one-piece snap-on cover without vent holes, similar to the Heath &#39;964 patent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,888 to Brandstrom et al. discloses a conical cover and spout similar in appearance to a inverted funnel which is held in place using a separate annular ring. U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,478 to Sullivan et al. discloses a sealing cap, preferably for a bottle having screw threads and including a levered spout and a valving system to prevent squirting of the carbonated beverage when the spout is opened. U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,207 to Adamek discloses an insulating cylinder into which a beverage can is inserted and a hinged cap which seals the container. U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,347 to Fullin discloses a cover seal for a can of carbonated beverages which includes four fingers which engage the outside of the top of the beverage can and which are pulled into place using a cam and lever system. The cover must be removed before the contents can be poured or drunk. U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,797 to Barous discloses a snap-on cover for a can having a sliding top which opens and closes the orifice. U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,458 to Dark discloses a flexible straw ending in a pivoted drinking spout primarily designed to attach to a cup. U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,452 to Lurent discloses a seal for a beverage can which includes a cup or insulating sleeve directly engageable to the can. 
     The number of attempts to affix a cap to an open beverage can which allows access without removing the cap and while providing secure affixation attest to the difficulty of the task at hand. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a sealing cap for a beverage can which locks securely in place to maintain carbonation of the contents. It is further object of this invention to provide a cover which allows access to the contents through a straw and a flip-up spout. It is a further object of this invention to provide a seal and drinking spout for a beverage can. It is a still further object to provide a sealing cap which incorporates means for insulating the container from the heat. 
     These and other objectives maybe achieved by providing a sealing cap having at least one clamping member articulated from the cover which may be locked in place by engaging the outer rim of the lid of the beverage can. Mechanical locking systems useful in accordance with this invention include cam and lever arrangements, eccentric ramps and screw chucks or slip nuts. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention which employs a hinge pin in a sealing cap and external lever. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention using a suspensory link to locate a lever and clamping jaw. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a straw attached to a sealing cap. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a seal using a cam actuation from the top. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the lock is affected by twisting a slip nut. 
     FIG. 6 is a detail of the locking clamp of FIG.  5 . 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B are embodiments of the invention using a cam lever and a floating hinge. 
     FIG. 8 is illustrates an embodiment of the invention employing a cap and slip nut. 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b  and  9   c  illustrate an embodiment of the invention using a pull rod. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment incorporating a straw and a insulating sleeve. 
     FIG. 11 is an alternative embodiment having an insulated sleeve. 
     FIG. 12 is a third embodiment of the invention having an insulating sleeve integral with a locking lever. 
     FIG. 13 is a fourth embodiment having an insulating sleeve and a sealing cap held together by a slip nut. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The sealing cap of this invention employs clamping jaws which grasp tightly a beverage can at the end (top) which carries the frangible opening, typically a “pull-tab” opening. Beverage cans, especially those designed to contain 355 ml, are formed from two pieces of aluminum. The can is formed as a closed cylinder from a single stamping and a cover plate including the opening device is attached as a type of end plate or cap. To effect a good seal, the covering plate is crimped around the end of the first cylindrical portion. The circumferential region at the crimp area becomes the strongest part of the container because it is three layers in effective thickness. In most configurations currently in use there exists a small lip where the covering plate ends. 
     This invention takes advantage of the lip and the inherent strength of the can at that region to effect a good seal by drawing down a sealing cap using jaws to engage the can at the lip. The sealing cap is substantially circular and may bear a gasket around the edge which engages with the lip of the beverage container. The clamping jaws are forced radially inwardly at one or more locations and locked in place by a variety of means to be discussed below. The jaws are articulated so as to lift as they move inwardly so as to draw the can into the sealing cap. 
     The invention may also be used with PET plastic bottles with similarly sized mouths, such as are used for some “sport drinks.” 
     As shown in FIG. 1 a sealing cap  1  carries at least one lever  3  attached through hingepin  5  and articulated to thrust clamping jaw  7  radially inward toward the can. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the clamping jaw is actuated by a combination of secondary lever  9  hinged to lever  3  and secured in place by an engaging foot  13  protruding from lever  3 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the lever  3  carries clamping jaw  7  as an extension of the lever and the combination is held in place by a suspensory lever  23  hinged to the sealing cap  1  by hingepin  21  and to the lever by an articulation effecting a hinge at  25 . In FIGS. 1 and 2, only one combination lever and securing jaw have been illustrated. The invention may entail multiple combinations of levers to secure the device in place. 
     The device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may serve merely as a cap to maintain carbonation pressure and prevent spills. In a preferred embodiment the sealing cap would incorporate a straw descending into the beverage container and a flip-up tubular spout to which liquid may be drawn. FIG. 3 a  is a side elevation of a suitable straw arrangement. Straw  2  extends below cap  1 . The straw may be integral with cap  1  or attach by insertion into a bore hole (not shown) or slid around a small tubular extension (not shown). A turret  4  having a projection  6  is hingeably rotated in or above cap  1 . As shown in FIG. 3 b . the turret may be mounted on cap  1  using attaching points  12 ,  12 ′. The attaching points provide hinging points to allow the turret to be snap-fitted onto the cap using hinge pin extensions from the turret, nibs on the turret or stub hinges or by other means which allow disassembly for cleaning. A bore  8  passes through projection  6  into the turret and provides communication to straw  2  when rotated. When connection is established, projection  6  becomes a straw and the liquid in the beverage container may be drawn out through opening  11 . A second opening  10  which may connect to bore  8  but preferably is vented under cap  1  serves to provide a pressure release when projection  6  is first raised and also allows make-up air to enter the container. Second opening  10  preferably opens before the straw bore  8  is opened. 
     When the flip-up straw as described above is used, the cap may be left in place and the contents withdrawn over a period of time without fear of spillage or loss of carbonation. The device is particularly useful when it is preferred to put the beverage can back into a refrigerator or cooler. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment for actuation of the clamping jaws. As illustrated in FIG. 4, atop a beverage can  31  is placed a device which consists of a sealing cap  33  which engages the lip of the can  31 . At least 2 clamping jaws  39 ,  39 ′ are pivoted on the sealing cap for engagement with the lip of the can. A cover plate  35  may be supported a distance from sealing cap  33  by stilts  47 . A cam-lock  41  having a lever  43  is connected to a pull rod  45  which draws up a disk plate  49  which engages the upper end of clamping jaws  39 ,  39 ′ and causes the lower end to project inwardly and upwardly grasping the can. When the cam-lock is released a spring  47  acts to urge the clamping jaws  39 ,  39 ′ outwardly. This embodiment is preferredly a sealing arrangement and is not suitable for use with a flip-up straw. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment employs a slip nut to clamp to the beverage can. A seal cap  51  is placed on a beverage can  50 . The seal cap  51  carries clamping jaws  57  which are articulated at hinges  59  and an upper portion thereof and engages locking slip nut  53 . As seen from FIG. 6 the knob has expanding ramps  52  which would be integral with the knob  53  and which form an arch so that upon engagement of the top end of jaw  57  the top is rotated radially outward from the center line of the seal cap and the jaws are moved radially inward and upwardly to engage the top of can  50 . A step  61  at the end of the ramp provides a space whereby the clasping jaws may be held in the early disengaged position. The center  62  of the slip nut  53  is open to allow passes of the straw. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, a valve mechanism  4  and a flip-up straw  6  may be used with this configuration and may incorporate a straw extending from the seal cap as shown in FIG. 3 a  into the beverage can. It is preferred that the outer surface of seal cap  51  and clamp knob  53  have a serrated or knurled edge. At least one retainer  56  projecting upwardly from seal cap  51  cages the slip nut  53  to prevent separation. A second ramp and stop landing B 54 B optionally may be used to push the jaws out when releasing the can and to prevent the jaws being released by over tightening. 
     FIG. 7A illustrates an alternative embodiment when the seal cap  71  is placed on beverage can  70 . Lever  75  acting through hinge  73  forces clamping jaw  77  into engagement with the beverage can and to pull the can into contact with the seal. In this embodiment this clamping jaw is floated from a hinge in the sealing cap and pressure is applied to an actuating arm  79 . 
     A variation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7A is that shown in FIG.  7 B. In this embodiment, the hinge  74  connects cap  71  and lever  75  using ears  76  to create a fulcrum point and the jaw  77  is articulated using a channel instead of hinge  73 . As shown, this embodiment may use one lever  75 , the circumference of the sealing cap providing a surface against which the can is forced. Multiple levers may also be used. A turret and straw such as shown in FIG.  3 A and FIG. 3B may be a part of seal cap  71 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates an additional embodiment wherein threaded sleeve or slip nut  83  may be twisted about sealing cap  81  but behind the sleeve. As the sleeve is screwed down projecting arms  85  having fretted sides  84  are compressed inwardly to engage the locking jaws  87  into the sides of the beverage can. A smaller version of this embodiment may be used with a plastic bottle. 
     FIGS. 9A,  9 B and  9 C show another embodiment in which the lever  93  engages in slots  92  in sealing cap  91  and the clamping jaws  97  are actuated by a hinge  95  and link lever  99  which pass through a hole in the sealing cap  94 . FIG. 9A illustrates and alternative embodiment. As shown especially in FIG. 9A, a locking step  101  on the side of lever  93  (the side facing the beverage can) having a beveled notch  102  engages the projection  103  from sealing cap  91  to provide a locking action on clamping jaws  97  to hold the sealing cap in position. A turret such as shown in FIG.  3 A and FIG. 3B may be attached to sealing cap  91 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the use of the cap of this invention together with an insulating sleeve. Sealing cap  71 , together with locking lever  75  are secured to an insulating sleeve  111 , leaving opening  113  for insertion of a beverage can. A voided area  115  in sleeve  111  allows closure of lever  75  to effect locking of the beverage can to sealing cap  71  which is then fittingly secured within the sleeve. 
     FIG. 11 shows an alternative which is a second embodiment of a sealing cap with insulating sleeve. In this embodiment, sealing cap  71  is formed integrally with a rigid insulating sleeve  121 . At the bottom of insulating sleeve  121  or has external threads  123 . A cap  125  having internal threads  127  is engaged with the insulating sleeve  121  to lock the beverage container into engagement with sealing cap  71 . A straw arrangement  6  as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B may be incorporated. Optionally, a handle may be formed with or attached to the insulating sleeve  121 . 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a combination of sealing cap and insulating sleeve in which the lever and insulator are combined. The clamshell has a sealing cap  71 , turret  4 , straw  6 , hinges  12 ,  12 ′. Levers as illustrated in any one of FIGS.  1 , 2 , 7 A, 7 B, 9 A, 9 B and  9 C are integrated with an insulating half shell  130 ,  130 ′ hinged to cap  71  at  131 ,  131 ′. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. An insulated cup  140  accepts a beverage can and sealing cap  141  with turret  4 , and straw  6  is pressed onto the cup by means of a slip nut  142  having threads  143  which engage threads  145  on the cup  140 . 
     The materials used in this invention are selected on the basis of strength, formability, cost and heat conduction. Metals such as aluminum and mild steel may be used for the cap, levers and especially levers such as secondary lever  9 . Metals, however, are good heat sinks and not preferred. The sealing cap is preferably made from plastic, as are the turret and projection straw  6  for cost and heat insulation. For reasons of cost, levers are preferably made from plastic. Insulating sleeve III is preferably a foamed plastic. Hard sleeve  121  or  130  is preferably polyethylene, HDPE or any appropriate engineering plastic material such as polypropylene (HDPP). Injection molding is the preferred method of fabrication. Locking levers may be made from aluminum, mild steel, stainless steel 300 series or engineering plastics. The seal between cap and can should be formed from a washable rubber and is preferably attached securely to the sealing cap by water resistant adhesive or electronically. All components must be “dishwasher safe” and the turret should be dismountable for separate cleaning. 
     The invention has been described in terms of representative embodiments for illustrative purposes. Variations in detail which do not deviate from the concept of the invention are encompassed by the scope of the invention which is defined more particularly by the claims.