Patent Application
20100282749
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.
The 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.
The 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
