Lash back lid for containers such as beer and soda cans
Lash Back Lid is an apparatus disposed inside a container to enable the container to reclose and reopen after the container was initially opened. The present invention is best suited to function with containers having a lid with a tab and a collapsible dispensing port cover. The apparatus communicates with the container tab and dispensing port cover whereby a person can re-close and re-open a container dispensing port, through physical interference of the container tab.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a apparatus for containers having a tab and a collapsible part of their lids or dispensing hole cover that will collapse when the tab is lifted.
2. Description of Related Art
Containers presently on the market having a tab and a collapsible lid part will remain open after initial opening, consequently causing beverages in the container to loose its carbonated contents if not used up in a short time. Also, beverages may be spilled causing damages to documents or garments. Discarded opened containers often cause mosquitoes' infestations and bad smelling odors from accumulated water.
Thereafter; inventors created several types of closures to re-seal containers after they were opened. U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,859 B1 to Richard Joseph Leon filed Jan. 21, 2003 application Ser. No. 10/348,412 date of patent May 10, 2005 discloses a complex closure which can be pressed and locked on a beverage cup lid. However these closures do not prevent carbonated contents from escaping a container. U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,666 B1 to J. L. Clark, Inc, filed Jan. 21, 2001 application Ser. No. 09/886,800 date of application Jun. 1, 2004 discloses a closure with a flip section of the lid including a sealing ring sized to engage the inner periphery of the dispensing hole to provide a seal to preserve organic or other perishable items; however this invention is not effective on beverage containers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,112 B1 to Farmarte, LLC filed Jan. 1, 2000 application Ser. No. 09/585689 date of patent, Jul. 16, 202 discloses a spill resistant lid having sealable bead and a first cylindrical wall and a second cylindrical wall such closure apply sealing pressure to the inside container wall, and is not cost effective for containers such as beer and soda cans. U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,825 B2 to Lawerence Gerald Klosterman and Thomas D R filed Jun. 28, 2004 application Ser. No. 10/878,736 date of patent Aug. 15, 2006 discloses a tab extending sleeve for a flip-top beverage, snack and pet food container; this invention is not practical for use on most beverage containers, it can interfere with normal drinking of beverage by being on the outer surface of the lid.
The present invention is not intended to change the way in which a container with a tab and collapsible lid part is opened, nor does it change the external features; the invention allows a person to lift a tab that causes a part of the container's lid to collapse no different to opening a container not having the invention. However, the invention makes it possible to close the container after its initial opening by simply lifting the tab a second time (or turning version may be used). Lifting the tab a third time will re-open the container. Lifting the tab a fourth time will close the container, and a fifth lift will open the container and so forth. Other versions of the present invention, enables a person to rotate a container tab or a knob in order to re-close and re-open the container, dispensing port.
Thereafter, inventors created several types of closures to re-seal containers after they were opened. U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,859 B1 to Richard Joseph Leon filed Jan. 21, 2003 application Ser. No. 10/348,412 date of patent May 10, 2005 discloses a complex closure which can be pressed and locked on a beverage cup lid. However these closures do not prevent carbonated contents from escaping a container. U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,666 B1 to J. L. Clark, Inc, filed Jan. 21, 2001 application Ser. No. 09/886,800 date of application Jun. 1, 2004 discloses a closure with a flip section of the lid including a sealing ring sized to engage the inner periphery of the dispensing hole to provide a seal to preserve organic or other perishable items; however this invention is not effective on beverage containers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,112 B1 to Farmarte, LLC filed Jan. 1, 2000 application Ser. No. 09/585689 date of patent, Jul. 16, 202 discloses a spill resistant lid having sealable bead and a first cylindrical wall and a second cylindrical wall such closure apply sealing pressure to the inside container wall, and is not cost effective for containers such as beer and soda cans. U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,825 B2 to Lawerence Gerald Klosterman and Thomas D R filed Jun. 28, 2004 application Ser. No. 10/878,736 date of patent Aug. 15, 2006 discloses a tab extending sleeve for a flip-top beverage, snack and pet food container; this invention is not practical for use on most beverage containers, it can interfere with normal drinking of beverage by being on the outer surface of the lid.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is geared for container, having a tab and a collapsible part o their lids or dispensing hole cover, such as soda and beer cans. The invention's added functions to containers will provide a person the option to open and close a container as many times as they see fit, thereby preventing spills and outside contamination from entering a container. Also, having the option to re-close and re-open a container if its contents are not being used all at once, preserving such contents for later use. Beers and sodas will go flat if opened and allowed to sit for a while for using them. The invention will allow a person to close a beverage container after initial opening and they will enjoy the beverage at a later time, while it still tastes like it was newly opened.
The objective of the invention is to provide a container such as a beer and soda cans with the option to open and close as many times as needed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is a new and improved apparatus to close and open soda cans and other suitable containers, after their initial opening, and can be adapted or be used on most beverage cans in use today.
The present invention makes it possible to re-close soda cans after their dispensing port has been opened. The current soda can dispensing holes remain open after their collapsible part is pushed away from the lid by a tab. The invention will cause the collapsible part o the lid to return to its original position, thereby re-closing the dispensing port and preventing contamination or spills of the contents.
The present invention also includes a elongated assembly attached to the lid dispensing port cover underside, and to the rivet post holding the container tab in place. The rivet post affix to the tab will turn together with the tab causing the attached elongated assembly to rotate with the turning of the tab, causing the attached collapsible part of dispensing hole cover to move away from or towards its originally closed position, enabling re-closing of container having a tab and a collapsible lid part of their lid.
The apparatus disposed on the inner side of a container's lid with part hanging or suspended downward, enabling movements of the various element included.
A linkage fastened to the tab located on the outer side of the container lid, passes through a hole in the lid and is linked to a corrugated resilient distorted strip element linking an outer sleeve to the linkage.
The invention having several versions, one of which does not container a housing, instead a distorted metal o plastic strip is attached to the tab rivet post and extends onto the lid dispensing port cover. The apparatus being a elongated assembly, linking a container tab to rotable and slidable elements, for transferring external physical interference of the container tab or fron a outward projection of the elongated assembly disposed at the top outside surface of the container lid dispensing port cover, Enabling re-closing and re-opening of the container dispensing port.
FIG. is a perspective view of one version of the present invention visible inside the container through a broken off section, having a broken off portion
Referring now to the drawings,
Additional embodiment are shown in
Claims
2. A re-closing and re-opening apparatus for containers, having a button and a sidewall, and a lid having a tab including a dispensing port with a cover thereon, to reclose and reopen said dispensing port and adapted to be positioned and functions inside said container, said closing and re-opening apparatus disposed between an underside of the lid and the bottom, said apparatus being actuated by an external drive physically communicating with said apparatus through a hole in the lid, said apparatus being able to position the dispensing port cover in a close position directly under a perimeter of the dispensing port, and an opening position wherein the dispensing port cover is skive away out of alignment with the perimeter of the dispensing port, said apparatus being acted upon by a physical interference communicating means, when the dispensing port cover shuttle to the close position and to the open position whereby the container dispensing port can be re-closed and re-opened after an initial opening of the container dispensing port, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- A apparatus disposed between the underside of the lid and the bottom, having a linkage means extending out of the container lid through said hole terminating in or near said tab, and said linkage means is communicating to a polarity of rotatable members and said rotatable member communicating from said linkage means to a polarity slidable means for communicating movements to a drive means terminating in the underside of the lid dispensing port cover, whereby physical interference of the container external tab or the outward extending linkage means is communicating through said linkage means and said polarity of rotatable members and said polarity of slidable means and said drive means to said dispensing port cover underside enabling re-closing and re-opening of said container dispensing port,
- According to claim 2 wherein said re-closing and re-opening apparatus adapted to be positioned and function inside said container includes a linkage means having an elongated end extending out from said container lid and said linkage means having an inward end with means for attachbility and to communicate with elements therein, whereby physical interference of said linkage means is communicated to said dispensing port cover to effect re-closing and re-opening of said container dispensing port,
- According to claim 2 wherein side re-closing and re-opening apparatus includes an elongated assembly interconnecting said container tab to said dispensing port cover underside for physical interference of said tab to reach said dispensing port cover whereby a person can re-close and re-open said container by physically moving said container tab,
- According to claim 2 wherein said re-closing and re-opening apparatus said elongated assembly includes an inner and an outer side, the inner side having an inner top wall and an inner bottom wall and an inner surrounding side wall, the outer side having an outer top wall and an outer surrounding wall, said outer top wall is sealable attached onto said container lid underside, said outer top having a hole through which extends outward said elongated assembly said outward elongated end, and said elongated assembly is positioned at a predetermined parameter on the inner top wall underside, and said elongated assembly inside elongated end extending out of a hole through the elongated assembly surrounding wall and said inside elongated end having means for attchability onto the underside of said dispensing port cover whereby physical interference of said outward elongated end is communicated to said dispensing port cover for re-closing and re-opening of said dispensing port,
- According to claim 2 wherein said embodiment disposed between then underside of said lid and said bottom includes a elongated assembly sealably attached thereon
- According to claim 2 wherein said linkage means includes a linkage having an outward elongated end and a inside end
- According to claim 2 wherein said polarity of rotatable members includes a gear wheel for communicating movement from said linkage said outer elongated end
- According to claim 2 wherein said polarity of rotatable members further includes elongated arms secured to the elongated assembly inside elongated end portion, and to said linkage inward end
- According to claim 2 wherein said polarity of rotatable members further includes a cross threaded wheel for directing movements of said slidable means members,
- According to claim 2 wherein said polarity of rotatable members further includes said elongated assembled inside elongated end
- According to claim 2 wherein said polarity of rotatable members further including a grooved cylindrical sleeve being attachable to said linkage means said inward end and cooperate with a said converter bar said lower end communicating means whereby rotational movements of said grooved cylindrical sleeve cause upward and downward movements of said converter bar in order to re-close and re-open said container said dispensing port,
- According to claim 2 wherein said polarity of slidable means includes a slidable slotted bar having a front inward end and a back end having a perpendicular elongated end for communicating with said cross thread wheel and said perpendicular elongated end for communicating, includes a tracker position to aligned to and communicate with the cross threaded wheel said groove,
- According to claim 2 wherein said polarity of slidable means further includes a slidable bar having a back end and an front end and having means to be attachable and to communicate movements to said elongated assembly front end attached vertical swing bar,
- According to claim 2 wherein said polarity of slidable means further includes a bend bar that slides in an upward and downward directions having a upper end and a lower end, said upper end being attachable to the underside of said container dispensing port cover, and the lower end having communicating means for communicating rotational movements from said rotary member into slidable movements of said bend bar pushing and pulling onto said container dispensing port cover whereby a person can re-close and re-open the container by rotating said container tab or by rotating said elongated assembly said outward elongated end
- According to claim 2 wherein said drive means includes said bend bar being driven by said rotary member rotational movements for pushing and pulling said container dispensing port cover opening and closing said dispensing port,
- According to claim 2 wherein said drive means further including said elongated assembly frontward elongated end portion for communicating slidable or rotational movements to said container lid dispensing port cover
- A apparatus for re-closing and re-opening a container having a bottom and a sidewall and a lid which includes a dispensing port and a dispending port cover, said apparatus adapted to be positioned inside said container and adapted to utilize external physical interference for positioning the dispensing port said cover in a upward and closed position or in a downward open position, whereby said dispensing port can be re-closed and re-opened, after said dispensing port is initially opened, from said external physical interference to cause said apparatus to position the dispensing port said cover, firmly up against a underside of said dispensing port, closing said dispensing port, and positioning the dispensing port said cover downward away from said dispensing port, re-opening said dispensing port, the apparatus for re-closing and re-opening said container comprising:
- said elongated linkage means for communicating said external physical interference to a said resilient element that communicate said external physical interference to the dispensing port said cover,
- A polarity of retaining means for keeping in a functionable position the elements of said apparatus
2. according to claim 1 wherein said elongated linkage means for communicating said external physical interference comprising:
- A elongated outward end and an inward end, said elongated outward end adapted to accommodate, a human hand for pulling, pushing and turning and adapted for attachability to said tab
3. according to claim 2 wherein said linkage means having said elongated outward end and said inward end wherein said inward end adapted to communicate said external physical interference to said resilient element,
4. according to claim 1 wherein said resilient element comprising a resilient metal strip having a back upper short end and a middle portion and a elongated front lower end, having a tortuous form
5. according to claim 4 wherein said resilient metal strip being a buckling resilient distorted strip said back upper short end adapted for attachability to said retaining means,
6. according to claim 4 wherein said resilient metal strip said tortuous form said back short end adapted for compressing and relaxing by way of a polarity of ripples disposed between said back end and said middle portion
7. according to claim 4 said resilient metal strip having said middle portion having a hole adapted for communicating with said elongated linkage means inward end,
8. according to claim 4 wherein said resilient metal strip said tortuous form and said elongated front end adapted for compressing and relaxing by way of a polarity of ripples, between said front end and said middle portion
9. according to claim 4 wherein said resilient metal strip said elongated lower end having said tortuous form adapted for attachability onto a underside of the dispensing port said cover,
10. according to claim 4 wherein said retaining means comprising a back support column and a front support column for keeping said resilient metal strip in a functionable position,
11. according to claim 4 wherein said back support column having a upper end and a lower end, said upper end having a slot for keeping in place said tortuous resilient metal strip said back short end, said lower end adapted for attachability onto the underside of said lid
12. according to claim 4 wherein said front support column having a upper end and a lower end, said upper end having a slot for keeping said tortuous resilient metal strip in a functionable position, and said lower end adapted for attachability onto the underside of said lid, thereby supporting and suspending said tortuous resilient metal strip from said upper and lower columns enabling said external physical interference through said rod to manipulate a reaction from said tortuous resilient metal strip elongated front end, to cause a whipping motion whereby the dispensing port said cover lash to and from said dispensing port re-closing and re-opening said dispensing port
13. A apparatus for re-closing an re-opening containers, having a bottom and sidewall, and a lid having a tab and a dispensing port, and a dispensing port cover thereon, said apparatus adapted to reclose and reopen said dispensing port, and is adapted to be positioned and functions inside said container, said apparatus disposed between an underside of the lid and the bottom, said apparatus being actuated by an external drive physically communicating with said apparatus through a hole in the lid, said apparatus being able to position the dispensing port said cover in a close position directly under a perimeter of the dispensing port, and an opening position, whereby the dispensing port cover, is drafted out of alignment with the perimeter of the dispensing port, said apparatus being acted upon by a physical interference communication means when the dispensing port cover shuttle to the close position and to the open position whereby the container dispensing port can be re-closed and re-opened after an initial opening of the container said dispensing port, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- A apparatus disposed between the underside of the lid and the bottom having a linkage means extending out of the container lid through said hole thereon terminating in or near said tab, and said linkage means is communicating to a polarity of rotable members and said rotable member communicating from said linkage means to a polarity of slidable means for communicating to a drive means terminating in the underside of the lid dispensing port cover, whereby external physical interference is communicating through said linkage means and said polarity of rotable members and said polarity of slidable means and said drive means to said dispensing port cover underside enabling re-closing and re-opening of said container dispensing port
14. according to claim 14 wherein said apparatus adapted to be positioned and function inside said container includes said linkage means having an elongated end through the top surface wall said hole extending out from the container lid through hole thereat, and said linkage having an inward end with means to engage communicating with elements thereat, whereby physical interface of said linkage means is communicated to the dispensing port said cover to effect re-closing and re-opening of the container said dispensing port
17. the apparatus of claim 14 wherein said apparatus including a oblong form having a hole through a top surface thereat, and a hole through a lower side wall thereat, the top surface wall said hole accommodate and keep in a functionable position said linkage means, the lower side wall said hole accommodate and keep in a functionable position said polarity of drive means
18. according to claim 14 wherein said apparatus includes and elongated assembly having said interconnecting linkage means in communicating with said container tab, and terminating under the dispensing port said cover underside for physical interface of said tab to terminate at the dispensing port said cover whereby a person can re-close and re-open said container by physically moving the container said tab
19. according to claim 14 wherein said linkage means further including said outward end adapted for humans hand to pull, push and turn, and said inward end to engage elements thereat sending communication terminating in the dispensing port said cover underside, whereby external physical interference of the linkage means said outward end is communicated to the dispensing port said cover underside whereby a person can re-close and re-open the container said dispensing port by physically pulling said outward end and by physically pushing said outward end of said linkage means,
20. according to claim 15 wherein said linkage means further including said inward end adapted for communicating turning movements through a gear means to be communicated to the dispensing port said cover underside whereby a person can re-close and re-open the container said dispensing port by physically turning the linkage means said outward end
21. according to claim 14 wherein said elongated assembly being partially enclosed inside said embodiment having a inside front wall and a inside back wall, a inside top wall and a inside bottom wall and four inside surrounding side walls, including said inside front wall, and a said inside back wall, a inside left wall, a inside right wall, the outside side having an outside top wall and an outside bottom wall, a outside front wall, a outside back wall, a outside left wall, and a outside right wall, said outside top surface wall is adaptable to sealable attached onto the said container lid underside, said top surface wall having said hole though which extends outward the elongated assembly said outward elongated end, and the embodiment including said elongated assembly positioned at a predetermined parameter on the inside surface wall of the container said lid underside, and said elongated assembly having a inside elongated end extending out of the hole through the embodiment said front side wall and said inside elongated end having means for attachability onto the underside of the dispensing port said cover whereby physical interface of said outward elongated end is communicated to the dispensing port said cover for re-closing and re-opening of said dispensing port,
22. according to claim 14 wherein said apparatus disposed between the underside of said lid and the bottom includes a elongated assembly sealably attached thereon,
23. according to claim 14 wherein said linkage means having an outward elongated end and a inside end,
24. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity of rotable members includes a gear means adapts for attachibility to the linkage means said inside end for communicating movement from the linkage means said outer elongated end,
25. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity if rotable members further includes a horizontal swinging bar secured to the elongated assembly inside elongated end portion, and to said linkage means inward end,
26. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity of rotable members further includes a cross threaded wheel for directing movements of said slidable members,
27. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity of rotable members further including a spiraling groove on a cylindrical sleeve adapted to being attachable to the linkage means said inside end
28. according to claim 14 wherein said drive means including a elongated sinuous bar for communicating to the container said dispensing port said cover and said sinuous bar having a upper end, a middle portion, and a lower end, said upper end adapted to being attachable to the dispensing port said cover underside, and said lower end having a outward projection adapted for communicating with said spiraling grooved
29. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity of rotable members further includes said elongated assembled inside elongated end
30. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity of rotable members further including a spiraling grooved sleeve adapted for being attachable to the said linkage means said inward end, and cooperate with the elongated sinuous bar said lower end communicating means, whereby rotational movements of said grooved sleeve cause upward and downward movements of said elongated sinuous bar in order to re-close and re-open said container said dispensing port,
31. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity of slidable means includes a elongated rigid plastic and or metal material having flat surface and a inward end and a outward end having a outward elongated end for communicating with said cross thread wheel and the cross thread wheel having means to convert rotational movements into slidable movements thereof
32. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity of slidable means further includes a slidable bar having a back end and a frontward end having the means to be attachable and to transmit movements to said elongated assembly front end attached vertical swinging bar,
33. according to claim 14 wherein said polarity of slidable means further includes a vertically slidable converter bar that slides in an upward and downward directions having a upper end and a lower end, said upper end being attachable to the underside of said container dispensing port cover, and the lower end having communicating means for communicating rotational movements from said rotary member into slidable movements of said vertically slidable converter bar pushing and pulling onto said container dispensing port cover whereby a person can re-close and re-open the container by rotating said container tab or by rotating said elongated assembly said outward elongated end,
34. according to claim 14 wherein said drive means includes said vertically slidable converter bar being driven by said rotary member rotational movements for pushing and pulling said container dispensing port cover opening and closing said dispensing port,
35. according to claim 14 wherein said drive means further including said elongated assembly inward elongated end portion for communicating slidable or rotational movements to said container lid dispensing port cover, although the preferred embodiment of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims,
Type: Application
Filed: May 11, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 11, 2010
Inventor: JERRY FORRESTER (Brooklyn, NY)
Application Number: 12/387,951
International Classification: B65D 43/26 (20060101);