Method of protecting the open top of a beer can and a soda can against contamination by insects, dirt and debris

Abstract

A cover for the open top of a soda can or beer can is substantially round and has a pair of parallel sides together with an annular bevel or chamfer to accommodate either a soda can or a beer can. The beer can has a larger diameter at its annular rim than that of the soda can, so that (in use) the cover is reversed. The cover may contain a trademark, logo, company name or message for promotional purposes. An alternate cover is substantially half-round, and a further embodiment is substantially arcuate.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/788,112 filed Feb. 26, 2004, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference hereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to soda cans or beer cans which have been “popped” open, and more particularly, to a simple removable cover which will readily accommodate either an opened soda can or an opened beer can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

After a soda can or a beer can has been “popped” open, the consumer usually takes a few swallows and then lays down the open can on a table, counter, picnic table or other convenient surface.

As a result, flies, bees or other insects, as well as dirt or debris may get into the open can. Sometimes, the ashes from a cigar or cigarette may be flicked into the open top, inadvertently, and possibly the cigarette butt may be dropped into the open can.

This is distasteful and unhygienic and in the case of a bee or bees congregating around the opening in the top of the can, may result in a bee sting or stings and then become very painful if not dangerous.

In the prior art, this problem has been recognized, as for example, in the following patents and published applications.

Inventor(s)
Patents:      Patent No.
Eberhart      4,749,100
Wehnert, III  4,815,628
Cerrone, Jr.  4,869,389
Boyd et al    4,917,258
Kellner       4,938,379
Dvoracek      4,961,510
Diaz          5,139,163
Yost          5,452,818
Tucker        5,203,467
Griffin et al 5,732,851
Lewis         5,887,742
Fenton        5,984,127
Barous        6,073,797

Design Patents
Inventor(s)    Patent No.
Sarnoff et al  Des. 358,311
Carducci et al D488,669

Published Patent Applications
Inventor(s)  Patent No.
Hirota et al US 2002/0008109
Weber        US 2003/0102313

While the problem has been recognized, the disclosed solutions leave much to be desired. Basically, the prior art solutions are complicated, unwieldily and costly; hence to the best of my knowledge and behalf, have never been commercialized in widespread usage, nor are they readily available on the market at the present time.

Another problem results from the dimensional difference between the conventional soda and beer cans, respectively. While the “pop” tabs are quite standard, nevertheless, the beer can actually is larger than the soda can measured by the inner diameter (“I.D.”) of the annular rim at the top of the can. The difference has indeed been recognized by at least one of the prior art patents (namely, Weber, '313) but, again, the preferred solution is unsatisfactory.

What is needed is a simple, inexpensive solution to this problem of long-standing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive solution which alleviates the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a removable cover which is universal for either a soda can or a beer can.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a universal cover which is easy and convenient to use, and which may be mass-produced at relatively little cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a universal cover which may be used as a “give-away” for marketing and promotional purposes.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is herein illustrated and described for use in combination with a soda can or a beer can. The beer can has a top portion formed by an annular lip which has a larger diameter than the corresponding diameter of the annular lip of the top portion of the soda can. A removable universal cover is provided for use when one of the cans is popped open, comprising a round disc having a pair of sides and further having a circumference provided with an annular bevel or chamfer, such that one side of the disc has a larger diameter than the other side of the disc. In order to cover the open top of the soda can, the other side of the disc is placed on top of the soda can; and in order to cover the open top of the beer can, the disc is reversed and the one side of the disc is placed on top of the beer can. As a result, flies, insects, cigarette ashes, dirt or debris are prevented from entering into the open top, thereby improving the hygienic and safety conditions.

Preferably, one of the sides of the disc has a logo, slogan or trademark on it; and in a preferred embodiment, the sides of the disc are substantially parallel.

In an alternate embodiment, a substantially half-round disc is provided; and in a further embodiment, a portion of the half-round disc is cut out, so that it is substantially arcuate. Each of these embodiments has the bevel or chamfer, however, and functions basically the same as the preferred embodiment.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the problem in the prior art.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a consumer opening a soda can (or a beer can).

FIG. 2 is a further pictorial view, corresponding substantially to FIG. 1, but showing the consumer taking a few swallows.

FIG. 3 shows the consumer placing the open can on top of a picnic table.

FIG. 4 (drawn to an enlarged scale) shows a bee, attracted to the contents of the can, landing on the open top of the can.

FIG. 5 shows the consumer, about to take a few more swallows, being stung by the bee.

FIGS. 6-13 illustrate the simple solution of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of one side of the universal, removable, one-piece molded, round cover of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section thereof, taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 6, and showing the annular chamfer on the circumference of the cover, such that the one side of the cover has a smaller diameter than the other side of the cover.

FIG. 8 is an exploded elevational view, showing the cover about to be placed on the open top of a soda can.

FIG. 9 shows the cover on top of the soda can.

FIG. 10 corresponds to FIG. 8, but shows the cover reversed and about to be placed on the open top of a beer can.

FIG. 11 shows the cover on top of the beer can.

FIG. 12 shows a logo or promotional message on at least one side of the cover.

FIG. 13 shows a trademark on the cover.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of an alternate cover, which is substantially a half-round.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section thereof, taken along the lines 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a further alternate cover, wherein the half-round has a cut-out and is substantially arcuate.

FIG. 17 is a cross-section thereof, taken along the lines 17-17 of FIG. 16.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Again, the problems in the prior art are illustrated graphically (and dramatically) in FIGS. 1-5.

In FIG. 1, a typical can C (soda or beer) is being “popped” opened by a consumer, and in FIG. 2, the consumer (person P) takes a few swallows and (see FIG. 3) puts the can C down on the table T. In FIG. 4, a bee B (fly or other insect, dirt or debris, etc.) lands on the open top of the can C.

In FIG. 5, the person P has lifted up can C to take another drink and, unfortunately, is stung by the bee B.

The improvement of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6-17.

With respect to FIGS. 6 and 7, the cover 10 is basically a round disc that may be molded very inexpensively out of readily available plastic materials. The cover 10 has a pair of sides 11 and 12, respectively, which preferably are substantially parallel.

Additionally, the cover 10 has an annular chamfer 13 around its circumference, such that side 11 has a larger diameter (denoted by A) than the diameter A¹ of side 12, as shown more clearly in FIG. 7.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, to cover the open soda can 14, the cover 10 is placed on top of the soda can 14 such that the smaller diameter A¹ of the cover 10 is seated or nested within the annular rim 15 of the soda can 14.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, to cover the open beer can 16, the cover 10 is reversed and placed on top of the beer can 16, such that side 11 of the cover C (with its larger diameter A) is seated or nested within the annular rim 17 of the beer can 16, it being appreciated that the diameter of the annular rim 17 of the beer can 16 is larger than the diameter of the annular rim 15 of the soda can 14.

With reference to FIG. 12, a company's logo 18 may be placed on both or at least one of the sides 11 or 12 of the cover 10. In FIG. 12, the logo 18 is on side 12 of the cover 10. In lieu of the logo 18, a promotional or inspirational message (not shown) may be placed on the side or sides 11, 12 of the cover 10. The logo 18 or message may be hot stamped on to the cover 10, or via a decal, or molded in, or using any other available production process.

With reference to FIG. 13, a trademark 19 may be placed on side 12 of the cover 10.

Since the cover 10 is so inexpensive, relatively speaking, it readily lends itself as an advertising or “promo” give-away item.

Alternate embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 14-17.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, a cover 20 is substantially a half-round; and in FIGS. 16 and 17, a half-rounded cover 21 has a cut-out 22, so that the cover 21 is substantially arcuate. Both covers 20 and 21 are provided with the bevel or chamfer 13 to accommodate the soda cans 14 and the beer cans 16, respectively, and function similarly to the cover 10 of FIGS. 6-13. Additionally, the cover 21 (for example) may carry the logo 19, if desired.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention greatly alleviates the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art by providing a simple, easy-to-use, very inexpensive cover that readily lends itself to high-volume production and widespread usage.

Additionally, the chamfered (beveled) annular edge of the disk 10 could be used to lift up the tab on the can, thus saving wear and tear on one's fingernails or thumb nail; and this is another advantage and feature of the present invention.

Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. For example, the present invention works equally as well with the older design of the pull or ring tab, and will work equally as well with future tabs or their equivalent which may be developed and marketed. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. The method of protecting an opened “pop top” can of soda or beer against dirt, insects, debris, wherein both cans have a top portion provided with a circumferential annular lip, the annular lip of one can having an internal diameter which is larger than an annular lip of the other can, comprising the steps of providing a cover comprising a substantially-flat annular disc having a chamfered circumferential edge, thereby defining a pair of substantially-flat sides of the disc, such that one side of the disc has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the other side of the disc, opening one can, placing the disc on the top of one can with the one larger side of the disc facing down, alternately opening the other can, and placing the disc on the top of the other can with the other smaller side of the disc facing down.

9. A method of covering an open top of a lift tab can of a beverage to prevent flies, insects, cigarette ashes, dirt or debris from entering into the can, the top of a beer can having an annular lip defining a larger diameter and the top of a soda can having an annular lip defining a smaller diameter, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a circular disc having a top and a parallel bottom, the top of the disc having a larger diameter than the bottom of the disc, the diameter of the top of the disc being receivable within the annular lip of the beer can and the diameter of the bottom of the disc being receivable within the annular lip of the top of the soda can,

placing the circular disc on the open top of the beer can with the top of the disc in contact with the top of the beer can, and

placing the circular disc on the open top of the soda can with the bottom of the disc in contact with the top of the soda can wherein the circular disc may be used on the beer can or the soda can.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the top of the disc is spaced apart from the bottom of the disc by an annular chamfered circumference.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the top or the bottom of the disc has a logo, slogan, or trademark on it.

12. The method of covering an open top of a lift tab soda can or a beer can, wherein the beer can has a top portion formed by an annular lip which has a larger diameter than a corresponding diameter of an annular lip of the top portion of the soda can, comprising the steps of:

providing a removable universal cover independent of the can for use when one of the cans is popped open, said cover comprising a substantially half-round disc having a top and a parallel bottom, a planar edge and an arcuate edge between the top and the bottom, the arcuate edge being chamfered, such that the top of the disc has a larger diameter than the bottom of the disc,

covering the open top of the soda can by placing the bottom of the disc on the open top of the soda can,

covering the open top of the beer can by reversing the disc and placing the top of the disc on the open top of the beer can,

thereby preventing flies, insects, cigarette ashes, dirt or debris from entering into the open top, and thereby improving the hygienic and safety conditions.