CONTAMINATION FREE BEVERAGE CAN

Abstract

A readily manually removable and replaceable closure for reclosing beverage cans. The can has a principal opening for discharging liquids for drinking. The closure comprises a sealing member and a separate clamp. The clamp may thread to the body of the beverage can, and may have a depression formed therein so that a second can may be stacked thereon. The threading elements of the clamp and of the body may each extend less than half way around the circumference of the body such that the second closure may be secured by twist action after rotation of ten to fifteen degrees after initial contact of the threading elements. A foil bearing adhesive may be provided to cover that portion of the can contacted by the mouth when drinking.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to beverage containers, and more particularly to a beverage container having a reinstallable closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverage containers such as aluminum cans have become quite popular. Aluminum beverage cans typically have prescored tabs which may be depressed into the can, remaining attached to the can, or alternatively, may be torn and entirely separated from the can. Both options result in opening the interior to make liquids contained therein available for drinking. While this feature is highly practical in that it eliminates having the manufacturer not have to provide a separate closure and does not require any tools for opening the container, it nonetheless entails certain drawbacks. One drawback is that the tab, when pushed into the interior of the can, threatens to introduce pathogens into the contained beverage. A second drawback is that once opened, the can cannot be readily reclosed. An aluminum beverage can easily contain more beverage than the user wishes to drink at one sitting. Therefore, the unused portion may become degraded due to exposure to the ambient atmosphere after the tab has been opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides answers to the above noted drawbacks, while still enabling the beverage industry to rely upon conventional, two part aluminum beverage cans. Notably, the invention provides manually removable closures which protect the opening of a can against contamination by the likes of bacteria and other pathogens. The closure is formed in two parts, including a disc which seals the top of the can, and a twist-on metallic cover to clamp the disc to the can. This closure assembly may be used repeatedly to seal the can, so that a beverage may retain its quality after the can has initially been opened. A foil bearing adhesive may be applied directly onto the can to protect that portion of the can which will be contacted by mouth when drinking. As with the twist-on metallic cover, the foil may be used repeatedly to cover and recover that portion of the can which it protects.

The can may be provided with a drinking opening without requiring a frangible tab for sealing such an opening. Therefore, conventional so-called “pop top” tabs may be eliminated from the manufacturing process. In so doing, opening the can is easier to perform and is quieter than is typically the case when forcibly removing a “pop top” tab.

The novel construction is also an aid to fabrication. The so-called “pop top” with its associated rivet are eliminated. In other respects, the can may be conventional, so that no retooling is required in its fabrication. The twist-on cover is configured to accept a tapered bottom of another can placed thereon, so that cans may be vertically stacked.

An important benefit of the novel can is the protection afforded from environmental pathogens, which can be quite hazardous. Pathogens which may be barred from ready access to the opening of the can include junta virus, e. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus and strep viruses, as well as the common and less virulent pathogens, as well as dust, dirt, and hand borne contaminants.

It is an object of the invention to provide a reclosable metallic liquid containing can.

It is another object of the invention to prevent intrusion of pathogens into the liquid contained in the can.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate frangible closures for metallic cans and not to require complications in fabrication of cans.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded cross sectional side view of a beverage can according to at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view of the second to top component of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exaggerated side view of the top of the beverage can of FIG. 1, shown with the components fully assembled.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bottom component of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown a beverage can 100 for containing fluid contents which may be drunk from the beverage can 100 by a person. The beverage can 100 may comprise a body 102 which further comprises a lateral wall 104 which is dimensioned and configured to define an interior 106 having a top end 108, a bottom end 110, and a lateral boundary spanning the top end 108 and the bottom end 110, wherein the lateral boundary is entirely sealed along its entire extent, a floor 112 which is disposed to seal the bottom end 110, and a ceiling 114 which is disposed to cover the top end 108.

It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as top and bottom refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in position of the beverage can 100. In normal use, and when containing liquid (not shown) and when open, the beverage can 100 is upwardly open and typically in the position depicted in FIG. 1. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.

The ceiling 114 comprises a drinking opening 116 formed therein for providing access to liquids contained within the body 102. Apart from drinking opening 116, the ceiling 114 seals the top end 108. The body 102 comprises a first engagement element 118 the function of which will be described hereinafter.

The lateral wall 104, the floor 112, and the ceiling 114 are joined so as to be leak-tight under ordinary conditions of use, for example, for containing a beverage (not shown), allowing fluids to enter and exit the interior 106 only through the drinking opening 116 and if provided, the second opening 120. For example, the body 102 may be formed conventionally from a suitable aluminum alloy. The drinking opening 116 may assume dimensions and configuration of known so-called “wide mouth” openings of conventional beverage cans for example.

The lateral wall 104 may comprise a neck 124 of reduced diameter, as compared to the maximum overall diameter indicated by an arrow 126.

The beverage can 100 is provided with a protective cover comprising a sealing disc 120 and a separate clamp 122. The sealing disc 120 when installed on the beverage can 100 for the purpose of closing and sealing the drinking opening 116 is located at the top end 108. The clamp 122 is disposed to clamp the sealing disc 120 to the top end 108 of the beverage can 100 in a manner which enables the clamp 122 to be manually removed from the beverage can 100 and manually reinstalled thereto, so that the beverage can 100 may be repeatedly opened and closed to afford access to and to protect its contents.

The clamp 122 comprises a reusable second engagement element which is matingly compatible with the first engagement element of the body 102 of the beverage can 100. As employed herein, “reusable” signifies that using the second engagement element does not distort it or otherwise render it inoperable for subsequent usages. For example, screw threads, bayonet connections, and diverse tenon and mortise arrangements may be repeatedly used without destructive distortion, and therefore could be utilized as engagement elements for the purposes of the present invention.

The sealing disc 120 may comprise a structural stratum such as a metallic stratum 128 and a compressible stratum 130 coupled or bonded to the metallic stratum 128. The compressible stratum 130 enables the sealing disc 120 to conform to the ceiling 114 of the beverage can 100 when the clamp 120 exerts clamping force urging the sealing disc 120 towards the ceiling 114 of the beverage can 100. The compressible stratum 130 may be fabricated from cork, from a resilient synthetic resin, from rubber, and other resilient and preferably elastic materials. It will be appreciated that the sealing disc 120 may be other than circular in configuration when considered in plan view. The compressible stratum 130 may comprise a projecting portion 132 which is dimensioned and configured to enter and seal the drinking opening 116 of the beverage can 100. The nature of the projecting portion 132 may be better appreciated as seen in FIG. 2.

The clamp 122 and the metallic stratum 128 may each be fabricated from a conventional aluminum alloy such as that forming the body 102 of the beverage can 100.

The clamp 122 may comprise a recess for seating the floor of a beverage can which is similar to the beverage can 100, when the similar beverage can is placed against the top of the beverage can 100. This feature renders the beverage can 100 stackable when the clamp 122 is fixed thereto. The recess may be provided by an opening 134 formed in the clamp 122. Alternatively, the clamp 122 may have a recessed or depressed web or other structural panel which accommodates the bottom end of the similar beverage can.

As has been mentioned, diverse interengagement arrangements are possible for installing the clamp 122 to the body 102 of the beverage can 100. It is presently preferred to utilize respective complementing threading features formed in the body 102 and the clamp 122. While conventional continuous helical screw threads (not shown) could be provided if desired, it is preferred that the body 102 have a threading feature comprising a plurality of short, angularly spaced apart discontinuous threading elements such as the engagement element 118, which may take the form of a plurality of short projections 118 which cooperate with a plurality of corresponding short, angularly spaced apart projections or lugs 136 formed in the clamp 122. The lugs project inwardly from the outer wall 142 of the clamp 122 so as to be able to engage the short projections 118.

FIG. 3 shows the nature of interaction of the short projections 118 and the lugs 136 in side view. FIG. 2 is exaggerated in that the lugs 136 may be shorter than shown, even considerably shorter. FIG. 2 illustrates a representative thread pitch which may be utilized. The short projections 118 may project outwardly from the lateral wall 104 of the body 102, or alternatively, may face or project inwardly if desired. Regardless of direction of projection, the short projections 118 engage the lugs 136 to enable screw thread style interengagement such that the clamp 122 may be twisted onto the body 102 of the beverage can 100.

FIG. 4 shows further characteristics of the short projections 118, where it is seen that the short projections 118 are separated from one another by intervening angular zones 138A, 138B, 138C. The respective centers of the short projections 118 and of the angular zones 138A, 138B, 138C may be arranged at angular intervals of one hundred twenty degrees. Also, the short projections 118 are located along the circumference 140 of the body 104 such that they are located away from the drinking opening 116. It will be seen that spacing of the angular zones 138A, 138B, 138C is such that the angular zone 138A located at the drinking opening is no less in angular magnitude than any of the other angular zones 138B or 138C.

Structural dimensional and configurational aspects of the short projections 118 and of the lugs 136, such as pitch, length, and location for example may be selected such that the clamp 122 may be secured to the body 102 by twist action when the clamp is twisted or turned by an angular helical motion within a range of ten to thirty degrees, and more preferably an angular helical motion within a range of ten to fifteen degrees.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the beverage can 100 may comprise a protective foil 144 bearing adhesive 146, which protective foil 144 is dimensioned and configured to cover that portion of the beverage can 100 which is contacted by the mouth when a person is drinking from the beverage container 100. The protective foil 144 may comprise a structural substrate 148 such as an alloy of aluminum. The alloy of aluminum may differ from the alloys of the body 102 or the clamp 122 or both. Also, the structural substrate 148 may comprise substrates in addition to that of the aluminum alloy. Illustratively, the protective foil 144 may include a synthetic resin layer (not shown), for example, of a resin known to preserve taste and olfactory characteristics of beverages.

The invention may be thought of as the combined beverage can 100, sealing disc 120, and clamp 122, or alternatively, as a protective cover for a beverage can such as the beverage can 100. The protective cover may comprise the sealing disc 120 and the clamp 122 for example.

The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. Threading elements such as the short projections 118 and the lugs 136 may be formed by deforming their associated components, and may also be formed in ways other than by deforming the metal constituent material of the associated components. Threading elements may be formed in a separate member, such as a molded synthetic resin member (not shown), which is subsequently coupled to the metal portion of the associated component. Also, the beverage can 100 may have for example molded synthetic resin members (not shown) for reinforcing the body 102, for providing carrying or suspending handles or structure (none shown), or for imparting other qualities to the beverage can 100.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.

Claims

1. A beverage can for containing fluid contents, comprising:

a body which further comprises a lateral wall which is dimensioned and configured to define an interior having a top end, a bottom end, and a lateral boundary spanning the top end and the bottom end, wherein the lateral boundary is entirely sealed along its entire extent, a floor which is disposed to seal the bottom end, and a ceiling which is disposed to cover the top end, wherein the ceiling comprises a drinking opening formed therein for providing access to liquids contained within the body, wherein the ceiling apart from the drinking opening seals the top end, and a first engagement element;

a sealing disc located at the top end for closing the drinking opening formed in the ceiling; and

a clamp disposed to clamp the sealing disc to the top end of the beverage can, wherein the clamp has a reusable second engagement element which is matingly compatible with the first engagement element of the body of the beverage can, which reusable second engagement element enables the clamp to be manually removed from the can and manually reinstalled to the can, whereby the can may be repeatedly opened and closed to protect its contents.

2. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the sealing disc comprises a compressible stratum enabling the sealing disc to conform to the ceiling of the beverage can when the clamp exerts clamping force urging the sealing disc towards the ceiling of the beverage can.

3. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the sealing disc comprises a structural stratum and a compressible stratum coupled to the structural stratum.

4. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the sealing disc comprises a projecting portion which is dimensioned and configured to enter and seal the drinking opening of the beverage can.

5. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the clamp comprises a recess for seating the floor of a similar beverage can which is placed against the beverage can, whereby the beverage can is stackable.

6. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the first engagement element of the body and the second engagement element of the clamp comprise respective complementing threading features.

7. The beverage can of claim 6, wherein the threading feature of the body comprises a plurality of short, angularly spaced apart discontinuous threading elements.

8. The beverage can of claim 7, wherein the discontinuous threading elements of the body are separated from one another by angular zones and are located along the circumference of the body away from the drinking opening such that the angular zone located at the drinking opening is no less in angular magnitude than any of the other angular zones.

9. The beverage can of claim 7, wherein the discontinuous threading elements of the body comprise three discontinuous threading elements spaced apart from one another at intervals of one hundred twenty degrees.

10. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the threading elements of the body project outwardly from the lateral wall of the body, and wherein the threading feature of the clamp comprises at least one inwardly projecting threading element disposed to engage the threading elements of the lateral wall of the body.

11. The beverage can of claim 6, wherein the threading feature of the clamp comprises a plurality of inwardly facing lugs.

12. The beverage can of claim 6, wherein the threading feature of the clamp and the threading feature of the body of the beverage can are dimensioned and configured such that the clamp may be secured to the body by twist action when the clamp is twisted by an angular helical motion within a range of ten to thirty degrees.

13. The beverage can of claim 6, wherein the threading feature of the clamp and the complementing feature of the body of the beverage can are dimensioned and configured such that the clamp may be secured to the body by twist action when the clamp is twisted by an angular helical motion within a range of ten to fifteen degrees.

14. The beverage can of claim 1, further comprising a protective foil bearing adhesive, which is dimensioned and configured to cover that portion of the beverage can which is contacted by the mouth when a person is drinking from the beverage container.

15. The beverage can of claim 1, wherein the body and the clamp are fabricated from an aluminum alloy.

16. A protective cover for a beverage can comprising a body further comprising a ceiling and a drinking opening formed in the ceiling, comprising:

a sealing disc located at the top end for closing the drinking opening formed in the ceiling; and

a separate clamp disposed to clamp the sealing disc to the top end of the beverage can, wherein the clamp has a reusable second engagement element which is matingly compatible with the first engagement element of the body of the beverage can, which reusable second engagement element enables the clamp to be manually removed from the can and manually reinstalled to the can, whereby the can may be repeatedly opened and closed to protect its contents.

17. The protective cover of claim 16, wherein the sealing disc comprises a compressible stratum enabling the sealing disc to conform to the ceiling of the beverage can when the clamp exerts clamping force urging the sealing disc towards the ceiling of the beverage can.

18. The protective cover of claim 16, wherein the sealing disc comprises a projecting portion which is dimensioned and configured to enter and seal the drinking opening of the beverage can.

19. The protective cover of claim 16, wherein the clamp comprises a recess for seating the floor of a similar beverage can which is placed against the beverage can, whereby the beverage can is stackable relative to similar beverage cans when the clamp is threaded thereto.

20. The protective cover of claim 16, wherein the threading feature of the clamp comprises a plurality of inwardly facing lugs.