Patent ID: 8025170

Claim:
A cap covering for a punch-key tab rotably attached to the top of a preformed can having a rim, wherein the punch-key tab is to be pivoted by a person to punch out a prepared flap seal in the can top along a predefined scored boundary and a limited spatial zone then exists between the rotable handle of a pivoted punch-key tab and the top surface of the can, said cap covering comprising: an attachable and detachable hollow casing which can be fitted on-demand onto the handle of a punch-key tab then rotably attached to the top of a preformed can and which may be rotated at will in combination with the handle of a punch-key tab, said hollow casing having (i) limited dimensions such that the fitted hollow casing rotably attached to the punch-key tab of a preformed can does not come into contact with the rim of the can, (ii) a substantially disc-shaped configuration, (iii) a shaped top wall of solid matter which is planar, is substantially uniform in thickness and has fixed dimensions and configuration, (iv) at least one shaped side wall of fixed dimensions and configuration, (v) a shaped bottom wall which has fixed dimensions and configuration, is a beveled sheet of solid matter, has an overall thickness which is graduated, has an exterior surface with an incline which increases markedly from its forward edge to its reward edge, and is substantively sufficient to occupy and fill the limited spatial zone which exists between the pivoted handle of a punch-key tab and the top surface of the can, and (vi) an empty internal cavity of preset spatial volume sized to accept and hold the handle of a punch-key tab rotably attached to the top surface of the can, whereby said hollow casing forms a unified article having a profile of recognizable configuration and has a shaped opening sized to accommodate entry and passage of the handle of a punch-key tab, and wherein the fixed dimensions of said hollow casing, when rotably attached to the handle of a punch-key tab, are substantively sufficient to occupy and fill the limited spatial zone then existing between the rotable handle of a pivoted punch-key tab and the top surface of the can and thereby serve as an on-demand closure for a punched-out flap seal in the can top.