Beverage can containers, more specifically a beverage can container for providing easy access to the beverage cans contained therein.
Beverages, such as soda or beer, often come in cylindrical, aluminum, typically 12 oz. cans. Traditionally, one could buy a single can or a “six pack.” The six pack is simply six cans contained in a typically rectangular paper container or hung on interconnected plastic rings.
More recently, cans of soda and beer have become available in packs of twelve cans. The twelve pack is typically rectangular cardboard with the cans, usually in a 4×3 matrix arrangement, stacked closely next to one another. The twelve pack has walls typically constructed of light cardboard or thick paperboard, being thicker than writing stock paper but not as robust or thick as corrugated cardboard. These twelve packs presently enjoy popularity with use by Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola, the two leading providers of soda as well as by many major domestic beer companies.
The twelve pack containers provide a convenient means to carry the beverage cans but are not handy for dispensing the cans. Typically, the consumer will purchase the twelve pack, bring it home, tear the pack open and pull out the cans to stack them in the refrigerator, discarding the container. Applicant provides, however, for a modification to the currently available twelve pack to convert the carrying container to a dispensing container. That is, the cans will remain within the carrying container, the container acting, as modified by applicant as a beverage can dispenser.
An object of Applicant's present invention is to provide for a container for beverage cans which will allow easy access to the beverage cans for easy removal but will also hold the beverage cans therein.
It is also an object of Applicant's present invention to provide a modification to currently existing beverage can containers so that the containers, as modified, will provide easy access to the cans therein.
This and other objects are provided for in a generally rectangular, paper beverage can container with a corner removed on a diagonal line across the two side walls, the line running from a front wall to the adjacent top wall.
There are a number of benefits with Applicant's novel beverage container with a dispensing cutout therein. These include ease of access. This is obtained by placing the twelve pack container on edge with a cutout in the upper corner. Easy and fast accessibility to the cold beverage cans will increase consumption and sales of the product.
Applicant's invention also provides for gravity feed to enhance access to the beverage cans. This is created by the weight of the cans when the beverage container is placed in a vertical position. This position naturally pushes the cans, under the influence of gravity, towards the front wall of the container. The cutout location is designed to take maximum advantage of this gravity feed.
Another advantage of Applicant's invention is the ability to effectively utilize space, especially in a refrigerator or kitchen cabinet. By placement of the cutout in the position indicated, the container may be placed vertically to save space.
Line 12A shows the position of a line on the front wall of a beverage container from one side wall to the next, the line being straight and meeting the edge between the front wall and the side wall at a 90° angle. The line 12D shows the position of a diagonal line across each of the two side walls between the front wall and the top wall, lines 12D, at 12B and 12C showing a preferred range of the position of line 12D with respect to the top wall. Line 12E is a line across the top wall, one side wall to the next and perpendicular to the edges of the top wall. The beverage container will be cut through along lines 12A, 12D and 12E to remove section 12 from the rest of the container (See
In
The preferred length of the top wall defined after the cut is between 1 and 3 diameters, preferably between 1 and 2 diameters. These cut dimensions are illustrated by lines 12B and 12C set forth in
Cuts along the lines 12A, 12D and 12E may be made with a knife, razor or any other suitable instrument. When the cuts are made as set forth in
In an alternate preferred embodiment Applicant provides a twelve pack container with a line marked on the front wall F/W at between 1D and 2D, on the top wall T/W between 1D and 3D and across the two side walls S/W's to define the pattern for removal of a corner 12 of a twelve pack container as illustrated in
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.
This is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/997,712, filed Nov. 24, 2004, which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/935,209, filed Sep. 7, 2004, which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/388,951, filed Mar. 14, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,673, issued Sep. 14, 2004); which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/946,004, filed Sep. 4, 2001 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,615); which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/542,661, filed Apr. 4, 2000 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,293).
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2754047 | Schmidt | Jul 1956 | A |
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3178242 | Ellis | Apr 1965 | A |
3356279 | Root | Dec 1967 | A |
3517858 | Farquhar | Jun 1970 | A |
3712533 | Skillen | Jan 1973 | A |
4155449 | Bryne | May 1979 | A |
4417661 | Rocccaforte | Nov 1983 | A |
4498581 | Dutcher | Feb 1985 | A |
4785991 | Schuster | Nov 1988 | A |
5249681 | Miller | Oct 1993 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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11-17-1264 | Jun 1999 | JP |
Entry |
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USPTO, Board of Patent Appeals and Inteferenes, Meadwestaco Packaging Systems, et. al. v. Patent of C. Brown Lingamfelter, Appeal 2009-002578, ReExamination Control Nos. |
U.S. Appl. Nos. 95/000,066 and 95/000,069, Decided: Jan. 12, 2010. |
U.S. Appl. Nos. 95/000,066 and 95/000,069, Decided: Mar. 5, 2011. |
Patent Owners' Request to Reopen Prosecution (Feb. 11, 2010); Requester comments on Request to Reopen Prosecution (Requester II) (Mar. 11, 2010). |
Requester Comments on Request to Reopen Prosecution (Requester I) (Mar. 11, 2010); Examiner's Determination after Board Decision (Jun. 18, 2010). |
Comments on Examiner's Determination after Board Decision (Patent Owner (Jul. 16, 2010); Comments on Examiner's Determination after Board Decision (Requester II) (Jul. 19, 2010). |
Reply to Patent Owner's Comments (Requester II)(Aug. 16, 2010); Reply to Patent Owner's Comments (Requester 1)(Aug. 16, 2010). |
Reply to Requester's Comments (Patent Owner)(Aug. 19, 2010); Appeal Docketing Notice (Oct. 1, 2010). |
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, C. Brown Lingamfelter v. David J. Kappos, Director, US Patent and Trademark Office, Meadwestvaco Packaging systems, LLC and Graphic Packaging International, Inc., 2011-1449, Judgment/Opinion, 16 pages Aug. 9, 2012. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160060011 A1 | Mar 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10997712 | Nov 2004 | US |
Child | 14835107 | US | |
Parent | 10935209 | Sep 2004 | US |
Child | 10997712 | US | |
Parent | 10388951 | Mar 2003 | US |
Child | 10935209 | US | |
Parent | 09946004 | Sep 2001 | US |
Child | 10388951 | US | |
Parent | 09542661 | Apr 2000 | US |
Child | 09946004 | US |