Can cover

Abstract

A sealing cover and a soda can combination wherein the cover is snap-fitted onto a conventional soda can. The cover is of a flat top construction and has a skirt attached to an inner surface of the cover and depending therefrom to thereby form a recess between the skirt and a depending outer sleeve formed on the cover. The depending skirt has a slanted lip at a lower end thereof when the cover is snap-fitted onto the can. At the same time the top of the bead will seat itself in a bottom of the recess that is formed between the depending skirt and the depending outer sleeve This will form a double seal to prevent the carbonation from escaping once the content of the can is partially consumed and the can is resealed with the sealing cover.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

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STATEMENT REGARDING FED SPONSORED R & D

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reusable beverage container closure cap. It is used for resealing a conventional pop-top can of carbonated soda, beer or other pressurized liquids after partial usage. In the past, one of the problems with the use of cans containing liquids, which were opened and partially consumed, was the difficulty of preserving the carbonation during relatively short term storage because the so-called fizz will dissipate.

PRIOR ART STATEMENT

A search has been made and two relevant references have been uncovered. U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,192 discloses a can cover of a tapered configuration wherein the can cover does not have a self-sealing construction but has added seals included in the form of sealing rings. One ring may be placed against an inside surface of an upstanding bead of the can or another seal may be placed to engage a top surface of the bead of the can. Either embodiment tends to increase the cost of the construction of the cover, especially if a drinking spout is added on top of the tapered construction.

US Des. Pat. No. 346,718 illustrates a can cover having a flat top construction with a drinking spout added. The drinking spout appears to have a sealing closure and the closure is attached to the cover by way of a tether. This being a design patent, there is no explanation of how the cover is sealed against the top of the can.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a flat top closure cap that is snap-fitted over the top bead of a soda can in such a manner that it is sealed against the top of the bead that is present on any can and further against a circular recess that is present below a flat top of any can. The cover of the can is tethered by way of a girdle or ring that surrounds the can. After the can has been opened and the content is partially consumed, the cover is snap-fitted to the top of the can and is thereby double sealed against the can and the can may be stored without losing the carbonation or fizz.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the can-cover combination in an open position;

FIG. 2 shows the can-cover combination in a closed or attached position

FIG. 3 illustrates the details of the sealing arrangement;

FIG. 4 shows the can cover laid out flat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a conventional soda can 1 having a metal bead 2 surrounding the top of the can. The metal bead is normally constructed of a doubled back metal material to thereby create an ideal hold for a snap-fitted cover thereon. The cover is attached to the can by way of a girdle or a ring 3 that snugly fits around the can 1. The cover itself is attached or connected to the girdle 3 by way of a tether or strap 4 which is attached to the cover 5 so that it cannot get lost. The cover has a finger grip 6 that can be used to remove the cover from the can 1. The strap could be of any configuration and be flexible enough so that the cover will assume a position so as to not interfere when one is drinking from the can.

FIG. 2 shows the can cover 5 installed on the soda can 1. Like reference characters have been used as were in FIG. 1 FIG. 3 shows a detailed cross-section through the cover 5 as it is installed on the can 1. Again like reference characters as have been used as in previous Figs. The can itself has a flat top 7 which is recessed from the bead 2 at 8. The bead is formed by doubling the metal at 10 when the can is formed which is well known. The cover 5 has a depending ring or skirt 11 depending from an inside surface on the interior of the cover. The lower section of the skirt has a slanted lip 14 formed thereon when the top cover 5 is molded. The cover 5 has a bulge 13 formed on its inner surface which will snap under the bead 2 when the cover is installed. This way the top of the bead 2 will seat snugly in the bottom of the recess 12 that is formed between the skirt 11 and the outer depending circumferential sleeve of the can cover 5. At the same time the slanted lip 14 will seat itself in the recess 8 of the can 1. It can now be seen that a double sealing has occurred when the cover is snap-fitted on to the can. The first time when the top of the bead seats itself in the bottom of the recess 12 and the second time when the slanted lip 14 seats itself in the recess 8 of the can 1.

Experiments have shown that this double sealing has been successful in keeping the content of the can fresh after some of the content has been consumed and the can 1 has been resealed with the cover 5 installed. The-carbonation has not escaped which is the goal of the inventive concept. The cover 5 should be made of a plastic material that is rigid to afford a snap-fitting but flexible enough to conform to various contours of the can 1. That is, for the bead 2 to seat snugly against the bottom of the recess 12 and to snugly conform to the recess 8 in the top of the can by way of the slanted lip 14.

FIG. 4 shows the cover removed from the can and laid out flat. The same reference characters appear in this Fig. as were used in FIGS. 1-3.

Claims

1. A soda can cover sealing combination wherein said can is a conventional soda can having a top bead and a circular recess within the top of said can, said cover having a flat top and an outer circumferential sleeve depending there from, a depending skirt is formed on an inner surface of said cover to thereby leave a recess between said skirt and said circumferential sleeve, a bulge is formed in said recess on an inner surface of said sleeve which is instrumental of snap-fitting under said bead when said cover is installed, a top of said bead will seat itself in a bottom of said recess that is formed between said skirt and said circumferential sleeve to form a first seal thereat, said skirt further having a slanted lip at a lower end thereof, said slanted lip will seat in said circular recess of said can when said cover is installed on said can to thereby form a second seal thereat.

2. The cover can combination of claim 1 including a tether installed on said cover and attached to said can.

3. The cover can combination of claim 2, wherein the attachment to said can is a ring surrounding said can.

4. The cover can combination of claim 1 including a finger grip on said cover to aid in removing said cover from said can.