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US 2012/0138620 A1Published application
Beverage can marketing device
OwnerBarry W. Chapininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A “clean can” beverage can includes a beverage can body and a beverage can top coupled to the body. The can top is shaped to define a groove between a lower inside edge of the rim of the can top and an upper surface of the can top. A groove cover is disposed to cover the groove along at least a portion of the groove that is located adjacent to the openable section of the can top. The groove cover prevents collection of debris in the groove. The groove allows the can top to be wiped clean without debris getting stuck in the groove by sloping upwards towards the top of the rim. The groove cover can also cover the rim and an upper portion of the can body. The groove cover provides a more sanitary drinking experience and serves as a marketing surface.
Claims17
A rim cover device for a beverage can, the rim cover comprising:
- a layer of material having an the underside device surface having a rim connecting portion that matably attaches over a rim of a top of a beverage can;
- the an exterior device surface opposite the underside device surface, the exterior device surface extending up an outside area of the rim of the beverage can and over a topside of the rim of the beverage can and extending down into an inside area of the rim of the beverage can below the topside of the rim of the beverage can, the exterior device surface extending above and across a top of a countersink groove defined in the can top of the beverage can and having an inner edge that terminates upon an upper can top surface at a first location that is radially further from the center of the can top than an outermost edge of an opening of the can top defined in the upper can top surface.
A groove cover for a beverage can top, the groove cover comprising:
- groove cover material operable to be secured to a can top of a beverage can to cover at least a portion of a groove defined by the can top, the groove existing between an upper surface of the can top and an inside wall of a rim of the can top, the groove cover material providing a sloped upper groove cover surface that inhibits collection of debris within the at least a covered portion of the groove after installation of the groove cover;
- wherein the groove cover body includes inner and outer sidewalls, at least one of which secures to inner and outer groove sidewalls defined by a surface of the can top;
- wherein the groove cover body is made of a semi-flexible material that is operable to be press-fit into the groove of the can top;
- and
- wherein at least one of the inner and outer sidewalls of the groove cover are secured in place by metal that extends from at least one inner and outer sidewall of the groove defined the can top to grip the groove cover and secure the groove cover into the groove defined by the can top.
2 more elements
A groove cover attachment for a beverage can, the attachment comprising:
- a groove covering section that resides above the top of a countersink groove defined in a can top, the groove covering section providing a sloped surface that prevents debris from entering the at least a portion of the coutnersink groove over which it resides;
- and
- a rim connector section extending from the groove covering section, up and over a top and down an outside edge, of a rim of a can top, the rim connector section operable to secure the groove cover attachment to the rim of the beverage can.
A beverage can comprising:
- a can body;
- a can top coupled to the can body, the can top shaped to define a rim and an upper surface that includes an openable section of the can top, the can top shape further defining a groove between an inside lower edge of the rim of the can top and an outer edge of the upper surface of the can top;
- and
- a groove cover disposed over the groove to cover at least a portion of the groove, the groove cover providing a substantially sloped surface sloping downwards and inwards from a top region of the rim of the can top towards the upper surface of the can top, the at least a portion being located adjacent to the openable section of the can top, the groove cover preventing collection of debris in the at least a portion of the groove over which the groove cover resides;
- and
- wherein at least one of the first end and the second end of the groove cover define a debris pocket to trap debris that slides within portions of the groove that do not contain the groove cover during tilting of the can to pour a liquid contents of the can from the openable section in the upper surface of the can top.
3 more elements
A beverage can comprising:
- a can body;
- a can top coupled to the can body, the can top shaped to define a rim and an upper surface that includes an openable section of the can top, the can top shape further defining a groove between an inside lower edge of the rim of the can top and an outer edge of the upper surface of the can top;
- and
- a groove cover disposed over the groove to cover at least a portion of the groove, the groove cover providing a substantially sloped surface sloping downwards and inwards from a top region of the rim of the can top towards the upper surface of the can top, the at least a portion being located adjacent to the openable section of the can top, the groove cover preventing collection of debris in the at least a portion of the groove over which the groove cover resides;
- wherein the groove cover remains disposed in place in the groove and affixed to the can top prior to, during, and after opening of the openable section of the can top, the groove cover providing an upper groove cover surface over which liquid dispensed from the can flows when poured from the openable section of the can;
- and
- wherein the upper groove cover surface is at least one of:
- i) a substantially smooth surface that provide less turbulent effects within the liquid as the liquid flows over the upper groove cover surface as compared to a can top without a groove cover, the substantially smooth surface maintaining carbonation and fresher taste within the liquid;
- ii) a ribbed surface that has ribs aligned in a direction of current flow of the liquid as the liquid flows over the upper groove cover surface, the ribbed surface induce a more laminar flow into the liquid that reduces turbulent effects of the liquid to maintain carbonation within the liquid;
- and
- iii) a non-smooth surface that has protrusions that interfere with current flow of the liquid as the liquid flows over the upper groove cover surface to induce turbulent effects into the liquid to promote release of carbonation within the liquid as the liquid is poured from the beverage can.
8 more elements
A can top for a beverage can, the can top comprising:
- an upper surface section that defines an openable section on the can top;
- a seaming edge section that extends around a outer periphery of the can top and that is operable to be seamed to an upper edge of a can housing;
- a groove section that connects the upper surface section of the can top to the seaming edge section of the can top, the groove section defining a groove on a topside of the can top between the upper surface section and the seaming edge section of the can top;
- and
- a groove cover disposed on the can top to cover at least a portion of the groove defined on the can top between the upper surface section and the seaming edge section of the can top, the groove cover providing a sloped upper surface to provide a smooth transition when wiping debris off of the can top from the upper surface of the can top and up and over a rim of the can top once the can top is seamed to a can housing;
- wherein the groove cover includes:
- an upper region providing an upper groove cover surface;
- a lower region that resides within the groove;
- and
- a neck region coupling the upper region and the lower region;
- and
- wherein the lower region is wider in cross section distance in a direction of the radius of the can top than the neck region and an upper region, the lower region being wider to prevent removal of the groove cover within the groove on the can top.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.