Patent Application
20250176746
(1) Field of the Invention: This invention relates to “coasters”, using that term as used to denote small dishes on which drink glasses, cans or bottles of cold beverages are commonly placed to avoid condensation from touching support surfaces. According to the invention, coasters are provided to be readily applied to common sizes of cans containing paints, varnishes, solvents and the like, so as to prevent corrosion from staining support surfaces.
(2) Description of Related Art: It is commonplace for persons who perform various maintenance and project tasks to accumulate numerous cans of paints, solvents and the like. Typically these are made of steel, and over time will corrode. If they are left in place, unsightly rust stains will be formed on whatever surface supports the cans. This is particularly a problem on boats, where the cans are often stored in closed or poorly-ventilated lockers. Condensation is endemic in such lockers due to changes in temperature and humidity, and the rust stains which result can be quite a nuisance to remove.
The prior art has recognized this problem. Application 2011/0198473 to McDonough shows a “coaster type device of cup design that will seal on the vertical side of a can . . . made of a potentially corrosion prone material that may cause unwanted marks on a surface . . . .” See Abstract. McDonough proposes a cup-shaped device to extend up the side walls of a can and be retained by friction, thus sealing to the can. McDonough thus intends to capture any corrosion within the cup.
Waller U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,996 shows a torus-shaped member, U-shaped in cross-section, of resilient material and intended to fit over the lower edge of a can and protect the support surface from being damaged by the hard surface of the can. This would alleviate the corrosion problem to a degree, again by containing the corrosion.
The present invention approaches this problem from a different perspective. Instead of containing the corrosion, corrosion is prevented or substantially limited by providing a coaster structure that allows moisture to drain away from the can. That is, the inventors have realized that corrosion occurs when the bottom of the can is allowed to remain moist for a period of time. According to the invention, a coaster is provided that supports the can in such a manner that air is allowed to reach the can surface at substantially all positions. Moisture is thus allowed drain away and evaporate. Corrosion is thus eliminated or greatly reduced.
This is accomplished by providing a coaster that comprises a base and an upward-extending peripheral wall that fits over the base of a can, with tabs extending inwardly at intervals around the upper edge of the wall. These tabs fit over a bead formed during manufacture of the can, typically by rolling the outer periphery of the bottom of the can over the lower edge of the wall of the can. Thus, the tabs retain the coaster on the can. Ribs are provided on the upper surface of the base of the coaster, spacing the can therefrom, so as to allow air circulation and drainage of any moisture. One or more holes are provided in the base of the coaster, further promoting drainage. Finally, the undersurface of the base of the coaster is provided with raised features, e.g., the trademark under which the coasters are sold, again providing drainage.
While embodiments of the invention have been described as having the features recited, it is understood that various combinations of such features are also encompassed by particular embodiments of the invention and that the scope of the invention is limited by the claims and not the description.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the instant invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the device and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, in the present disclosure, like-numbered components of the embodiments generally have similar features, and thus within a particular embodiment each feature of each like-numbered component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon. Additionally, to the extent that linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in conjunction with such systems, devices, and methods. A person skilled in the art will recognize that an equivalent to such linear and circular dimensions can easily be determined for any geometric shape. Further, to the extent that directional terms like top, bottom, up, or down are used, they are not intended to limit the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize that these terms are merely relative to the system and device being discussed and are not universal.
As above,
As illustrated particularly by
A central hole 28 is provided to allow further drainage. Upstanding ribs 30 are provided to space the bottom of the can 10 from the base 20 of coaster 12, for similar reasons. Finally, raised features 32 are provided on the underside of the base 20 of the coaster 12, for the same reason; in the embodiment shown, these may be formed so as to include the trademark under which the product is marketed.
It will be appreciated that the coaster can be formed as a single integral member by molding or the like, and that the resilient nature of the tabs 24 will allow the coaster to be assembled to a can by simply “snapping” the tabs over the bead. For this reason, and also to limit the area of contact between the coaster and the can, limiting the spaces where moisture may collect and corrode the material of the can, the tabs are provided as separate items rather than as a continuous member, which would be more difficult to assemble to a can.
It will also be appreciated that the tabs 24 will be sized and shaped so that after assembly to a can, spring tension provided by the deformation of the tabs 24 will ensure reliable retention of the coaster by the can.
More specifically, the coaster 34 of
Similarly, the coaster 36 of
The coaster 38 of
The coaster 40 of
The coaster 42 of
Finally, as discussed above, the coaster 12 intended to fit the standard aerosol can, which is 2.57″ in diameter, might have four each of tabs 24 and ribs 30 and one drain hole 28.
In each case, the upstanding peripheral wall 22 of the coaster is sized to be spaced slightly away from the wall of the can, again in order to allow air circulation and drainage, thus limiting or avoiding corrosion of the can. Three tabs would presumably be adequate to hold the coaster to the can in the case of relatively small-diameter cans. Typical heights of the ribs 28 and the raised features 32 on the undersides of the would be 0.030″. The tabs might typically be 0.65″ wide.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying various embodiments of the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
