Patent Application
20240262573
This disclosure relates generally to a resealable beverage can lid, and more particularly to a resealable beverage can lid having a spout.
Beverage cans for containing liquids such as carbonated beverages have become a universal and ubiquitous product. The beverage can is typically constructed of an aluminum alloy composition that may include aluminum, magnesium, manganese, silicon, and copper. The beverage can consists of a can body into which a liquid is filled and a can lid or end that is sealed to the can body. The can body may include a base or bottom that is dome shaped to resist internal pressure, a generally cylindrical section, a narrowed neck portion, and an open top edge. The can may be closed or covered with the can lid that is about the same circumference as the narrowed neck portion of the can body, a scored line or weakened portion cut into the can lid to form a panel or a tear panel having a hinge, a tab portion that is used to rupture the can lid along the scored line to create an opening, and a rivet that is used to secure the tab to the can lid. The rivet is an integral piece of the can lid and is formed by stretching the center of the can lid upwardly and then drawn to form the rivet. The lid is sealed to the can body by trimming the open top edge of the can body, bending the trimmed edge, and seaming the bent trimmed edge to the lid. In this manner, any liquid contained within the can body is sealed. To open the beverage can the tab is lifted to press against the tear panel to partially push the tear panel into the can body to create the opening in the lid. The panel does not fully detach from the lid due to the hinge portion formed in the lid by ends of the score line. Once opened, liquid from inside the can body may flow through the opening.
One problem associated with the use of the beverage can is that once opened it cannot be closed again. Since the liquid within the beverage can may be carbonated, after a period of time the carbonation escapes and the liquid becomes flat or stale. Once flat, the beverage can and its contents may be discarded which may be wasteful. Also, after opening the beverage can the contents may have to be consumed quickly because the contents cannot be preserved. Further, it is also possible that the contents of the beverage can may spill due to not being able to close the opening. In particular, when an individual is walking with an opened beverage can the individual may trip or fall and the contents of the can may be spilled because the can is open. This may also be problematic if the beverage can is stationary and near electrical equipment such as a computer or a laptop and the can is accidentally knocked over and spilled onto the computer or the laptop. The computer or the laptop can be damaged by the contents of the can spilling onto the computer or the laptop. It is also possible that insects, contaminants, or other unwanted matter may infiltrate the beverage can through the opening. If this occurs, then the beverage can and its contents should be thrown away.
The present disclosure is designed to obviate and overcome many of the disadvantages and shortcomings experienced with prior beverage can constructions. Particularly, it would be advantageous to be able to have a resealable beverage can lid for preserving the contents of the beverage can. Moreover, the present disclosure is related to a resealable beverage can lid that can be easily resealed for later use, to prevent spillage, or to prevent contaminants from entering the can once opened.
In one form of the present disclosure, a resealable beverage can lid is disclosed which comprises a lid having a rim, a top side having a center and having a spout formed therein with the spout being offset from the center, the spout having an external thread, and a cap having a top portion, a side portion having an interior thread with the interior thread adapted for mating with the external thread of the spout for sealing the lid.
In another form of the present disclosure, a resealable beverage can lid comprises a lid having a rim having a first height, a top side having a center and having a spout formed therein with the spout being offset from the center, the spout having an external thread, the spout having a second height with the second height being less than the first height, and a cap having a top portion, a side portion having an interior thread with the interior thread adapted for mating with the external thread of the spout for sealing the lid.
In still another form of the present disclosure, a resealable beverage can lid comprises a lid having a rim, a top side having a center and having a spout formed therein with the spout being offset from the center, the spout having an external thread, the top side being sloped having a low side and a high side with respect to the rim with the spout being positioned along the low side, and a cap having a top portion, a side portion having an interior thread with the interior thread adapted for mating with the external thread of the spout for sealing the lid.
In light of the foregoing comments, it will be recognized that the resealable beverage can lid of the present disclosure is of simple construction and design and which can be easily employed with highly reliable results.
The present disclosure provides a resealable beverage can lid that may be used to reseal an opened beverage can to preserve the contents of the beverage can for later use.
The present disclosure provides a resealable beverage can lid that employs an easy to use closure mechanism that allows an individual to reseal the lid of an opened beverage can.
The present disclosure provides a resealable beverage can lid that does not require any special tools to use the resealable beverage can lid.
The present disclosure also provides a resealable beverage can lid that can be used with any sized beverage can.
The present disclosure provides a resealable beverage can lid that can be constructed using readily available materials and construction techniques and machinery.
The present disclosure also provides a resealable beverage can lid having a closure mechanism that does not add significantly to the cost of manufacturing the beverage can lid.
The present disclosure is also directed to a resealable beverage can lid that can be used to open and close the lid of an opened beverage can several times.
The present disclosure is further directed to a resealable beverage can lid that does not require a tab to open the beverage can.
The present disclosure also provides a resealable beverage can lid that may be stacked or nested with other resealable beverage can lids for storage, transportation, or inventory.
The present disclosure is directed to a resealable beverage can lid that is comfortable to drink from and use.
These and other advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent after considering the following detailed specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like items, number 10 identifies a preferred embodiment of a resealable beverage can lid constructed according to the present disclosure. Referring now to
With reference now to
With particular reference now to
The operation of the resealable beverage can lid 10 may be as follows. The can body 44 is filled with the liquid 50 and the lid 12 is sealed to the can body 44 and the product is then made available for purchase to an individual or consumer. Once purchased and the individual wants to use the product the individual will remove the cap 18 from the spout 16. This allows the liquid 50 in the interior 48 of the can body 44 to flow out of the opening 32 in the spout 16. The opening 32 allows the individual to drink the liquid 50 from the can body 44. When the individual wants to close or reseal the opening 32 the individual may screw the cap 18 back onto the spout 16. The beverage can 44 may be held, stored, or refrigerated without concern that the liquid 50 will spill out of the beverage can 44 or that the liquid 50 will become stale or that the liquid 50 will be contaminated. When the individual desires to again drink from the beverage can 44 the individual removes the cap 18 to again gain access to the opening 32. As is known, once the liquid 50 from the beverage can 44 has been consumed, the beverage can 44 may be recycled.
As should be appreciated, the top side 114 to the rim 140 has a depth or height, the spout 118 has a depth or height, and the removable cap 130 has a depth or height. The height of the top side 114 to the rim 140 is greater than the height of the spout 118 or the height of the cap 130 or both of the heights of the spout 118 and the cap 130 when the cap 130 is secured to the spout 118. The spout 118 and the cap 130 are below the rim 140 in order for the lids 102 to be stacked or nested together. Further, having the spout 118 off center allows an individual to easily drink the liquid 112 from the interior 110 of the can body 104.
Preferably, the resealable beverage can lids 10 and 100 will be constructed of a relatively lightweight material so that it can be easily used and manufactured. By way of example only, the resealable beverage can lids 10 and 100 may be constructed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
Although it has been indicated herein that the resealable beverage can lids 10 and 100 are used with cans that contain a liquid, such as a carbonated beverage, it is also possible and contemplated that the cans may contain other items such as non-carbonated beverages, powders, spices, foods, syrups, gums, candies, or any other item that can be removed from an opening in the lids 10 and 100 and may need to be resealed.
From all that has been said, it will be clear that there has thus been shown and described herein a resealable beverage can lid which fulfills the various objects and advantages sought therefor. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the subject resealable beverage can lid are possible and contemplated. All changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure are deemed to be covered by the disclosure, which is limited only by the claims which follow.
