Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Flip-Top Beverage Can Sanitary Cover
APPLICANT
4 Dante R Olivar
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
I claim the benefit of Philippines patent application number 000-1022.
Filed : 24 April 2000
8 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
9 1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to flip-top beverage cans.
11 2. Prior Art
12 Flip-top beverage cans are typically stored or displayed for sale without
any
13 packaging. Overtime contaminants accumulate on their topslends and
especially
14 around the end's crevice. These contaminants mix with the overflow of the
bever
age from the can and is washed into the digestive system of a consumer who
16 directly drinks from the can. Even when the beverages are poured into a
glass,
17 the contaminants on the rim would still be washed into the glass.
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1 OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
2 Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the present sanitary and
protective
3 cover are:
4 ( a) to provide a sanitary cover that seals the head and neck of the can;
(b) to provide a protective cover for aluminum cans making use of different
mate
6 rials and combination thereof;
7 (c) to be easy and inexpensive to make and apply;
8 (d) to provide a sanitary cover that eliminates the direct contact of the
lips and
9 mouth of consumers to the unhealthy particles that reside on top of the can;
(e) to provide a cover material and combination of materials that is easily
flexible,
11 malleable, teareable, adhesible and stackable;
12 (f) to provide a cover material that is printable;
13 (g) to provide a cover with a flared skirt to protect the shoulder of the
can.
14 Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent
from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
16 This present invention provides a solution to the health and hygiene
problem
17 encountered by consumers when drinking direct from flip-top cans, by
suggesting
18 an article and a method of covering the surface, neck and down to the
portion of
19 the can that comes in direct contact with the lips of the consumers.
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1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
2 Fig. 1 & 1A is a perspective view of the present sanitary and protective
cover posi
3 tinned over a conventional beverage can.
4 Fig. 2& 2A is a perspective view of the pesent cover attached to the can.
Fig. 3 & 3A is a cutaway view of the present cover on the beverage can.
6 Fig. 4 & 4A is a view of a flat sheet being formed onto the beverage can.
7 Fig. 5 & 5A is a perspective view of a flat sheet being pressed onto the
can.
8 Fig. 6 & 6A are various ways of detachments.
9 Fig. 7 to 7F are preferred embodiments thereof.
Fig. 8 is a view of linked covers.
11 Fig. 9 & 9A are views of print promotionals beneath the surface of the
cover.
12 Fig. 10 & 10 A are views of print promotionals on the top surface of the
cover.
13 Fig. 11 & 11A are other promotional embodiments thereof.
14 Fig. 12 & 12A are also promotional embodiments thereof.
Fig. 13 is shows another function of the cover.
16 Fig. 14 is the first and original embodiment thereof.
17 Fig. 15 & 15A are originall embodiments thereof.
18 Fig. 16 & 16A are also original embodiments thereof.
19 Fig. 17 & 17A are still original embodiments thereof.
Fig. 18 is an original view of a tab and a perforation on the cover.
21 DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS
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1 10. Cover 11. Top/Opening
2 12. Beverage Can 13. Disc
3 14. Concave Rim 15. Flared Skirt
4 16. Convex Lip 17. Shoulder
18. Transition 19. Vertical Wall
6 20. Flat Sheet 21. Flat Sheet
7 22. Press 23. Cavity
8 24. Covers 25. Links
9 26. Print Promo 27. Beverage
28. Tab 29. Perforation
11 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
12 Figs. 1-3 & 1A-3A:
13 A first embodiment of the present sanitary cover is shown in a perspective
view
14 in Fig. 1 & 1A. It is comprised of a flexible cover 10 for the top 11 of a
conventional beverage can 12. Cover 10 is comprised of a round disc 13,
16 a concave rim 14 around the perimeter of a disc 13 and a flared skirt 15
extend
17 ing from concave rim 14. Rim 14 is convex when viewed from the inside of
18 cover 10.
19 Cover 10 may be made out of a plastic material, such as polyethylene,
polypropy
lane, nylon, paper, aluminum, and other present and future materials and combi
21 nations, etc. Cover 10 is applied on top of the can by virtue of
combination tech
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1 nologies in molding, extrusion, capping, wrapping, punching, sealing and
adhe
2 sion. In Fig. 2 & 2A, cover 10 is applied to the can 12.
3 In Fig. 3 concave rim 14 of cover 10 is snugly engaged around a convex lip
16 of
4 can 12 to retain cover 10 in position. Flared skirt 15 is shaped to conform
closely
5 to a tapered shoulder 17 of can 12 and is long enough to extend at least
down to
6 a transition 18 between tapered shoulder 17 and a vertical wall 19 of can
12.
7 Advertising may be printed on cover 10.
8 Accordingly, top 11 and shoulder 17 of can 12 are protected by cover 10 from
9 contaminants. Cover 10 can be easily peeled off from can 12.
Fig. 4 & 4A:
11 As shown in Fig. 4, the cover 10 may also be made by molding a flat sheet
20
12 and heat shrink applied onto top 11 of can 12. Alternately, sheet 20 may be
glued.
13 Fig. 5 & 5A:
14 As shown in Fig. 5, another method for making the crown is comprised of
pressing a flat sheet 21 onto top 11 of can 12 with a press 22. A cavity 23 in
16 press 22 is shaped to conform to top 11 of can 12. Flat sheet 21 may be
made of
17 any deformable material, such as paper, aluminum, plastic, etc. Flat sheet
21
18 may be retained on can 12 by friction, adhesion, meachanically tightening,
etc.
19 Fig. 6 & 6A
As shown in Fig. 6, cover 10 is detached from can 12 by inserting anger under
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1 spaces provided in between the flared skirt 15 of cover 10. In Fig. 6A,
cover 10 is
2 shown as completely detached and separated from top 11 of can 12
3 Figs. 7 to 7F:
4 Cover 10 is shown on top 11 of can 12 in two variations. Fig. 7 is made of
modified aluminum, while Fig. 7A is made of modified plastic. Fig. 7B shows a
6 variation of a flared skirt 15 of cover 10 on can 12. Fig. 7C shows another
varia
7 tion of a flared skirt 15 on top 11 of can 12. Figs. 7E and 7F shows another
3 variation of a flared skirt 15 on top 11 of can 12.
9 Fig. 5:
A plurality of covers 24 are connected together with integral links 25 there
be
11 tween , and are prefferably made by molding. The plurality of linked 25
covers 24
12 on top of multi-pack cans may be applied by heat-shrink
wrapping,pressing,gluing
13 and mechanically tight-fitting.
14 Figs. 9 & 9A:
As shown in Fig. 9 is cover 10 with flared skirt 15 promoting 26 a winning.
Fig 9A
16 illustrates linked 25 covers 24 wherein flared skirt 15 as points of
attachments.
17 Cover 10 with flared skirt 15 is shown as print promoting 26 various
products.
13 Figs. 10 & 1 OA:
19 Fig. 10 shows an exploded view of a print promo 26 on the surface of cover
10
with the flared skirt 15 distinctly emphasized herewith. Fig. 10A shows covers
24
21 linked 25 at points of flared skirt 15. Different print promos 26 are
displayed.
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1 Figs. 11 & 11A:
2 In Fig. 11, a print promo 26 features cover 10 with the flared skirt 15
3 being shown as a source of amusement. Fig. 11A shows another print promo 26
4 wherein cover 10 with flared skirt 15 distinctly promoting 26 a beverage 27.
Figs. 12 & 12 A:
6 Still another embodiment of a print promo 26 is shown, wherein a giant can
12
7 with a giant cover 10 and giant flared skirt 15 elliciting excitement. Fig.
12A
8 shows another print promo 26 wherein cover 10 with flared skirt 15 as being
used
9 to promote not only beverages but also services.
Fig. 13:
11 The enclosing and extended features of the flared skirt 15 of cover 10
finds use
12 similar to ashtrays.
13 Fig. 14:
14 Is an original embodiment of cover 10 with flared skirt 15.
Fig.l5 & 15 A:
16 In Fig. 15 & 15 A, cover 10 is surrounded with flared skirt 15.
17 Fig. 16 & 16 A:
18 Fig. 16 combined aluminum and plastic for cover 10 with flared skirt 15.
19 Fig. 17:
Shows original embodiment of cover 10 on top 11 of can 12.
21 Fig. 18:
22 Shows flared skirt 15 with tab 28 and perforation 29.
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1 SUMMARY AND SCOPE
2 Accordingly, the present sanitary cover 10 protects the top 11 of a flip-top
3 beverage can 12 from contaminants. The flared skirt 15 protects the shoulder
17
4 of the can 12 from contaminants. The cover 10 is easy to apply and detach
from
the can 12 and inexpensive to make. Cover 10 with flared skirt 15 also
provides
6 space for print promotionals 26.
7 Although the above description is specific, it should not be considered as a
8 limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the
preffered
9 embodiment. Many variations are possible with fihe teachings of the
invention.
For example, different attachment methods, fasteners, materials, dimensions,
11 contortions, etc. can be used and applied unless specifically indicated
otherwise.
12 The relative positions of the elements can vary, and the shapes of the
elements
13 can vary. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the
14 appended claims and their legal epuivalents, not by the examples given.
