US20030168457A1

US20030168457A1 - Auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can

Info

Publication number: US20030168457A1
Application number: US10/351,371
Authority: US
Inventors: Hung-Yu Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-05
Filing date: 2003-01-27
Publication date: 2003-09-11
Also published as: TW543598U

Abstract

An auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can with non-tear-away pull tab is disclosed. It is a rotatable plate. It mainly includes a central recess, a main recess, a sliding rim, and a turning portion. So, this auxiliary rotatable cover at least has a full-open position, a semi-open position, and a full-close position. At the full-open position, the main recess faces the outlet of the easy-open can. At the full-close position, the outlet is covered. It has the advantages and functions: while shaking, the drink will not spill out; it has many functions and easy to switch; it is small and will not influence its original packing volume; its structure is simple; and it can secure a straw.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can. Particularly, it is an auxiliary rotatable cover suitable for the easy-open can with a non-tear-away pull tab. It has the advantages and functions as follows: while shaking, the drink will not spill out; it has many functions and easy to switch; it is small and will not influence its original packing volume; its structure is simple; and it can secure a straw.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1, it shows a conventional easy-open can with a removable pull tab. When a user pulls out the

pull tab

98 of the easy-open can 90, this pull tab 98 will separate and forms a drinking opening 99. However, a drink cover 80 can be fitted on the top end of the easy-open can 90. The drink cover 80 includes a flange 81, a through hole 82, a guiding portion 83 and a plate portion 84. The flange 81 extends downward from the circular periphery of the drink cover 80 and can secure on the top end of the easy-open can 90. The through hole 82 is disposed on and connecting with the drinking opening 99. The guiding portion 83 is sloped for guiding liquid. The plate portion 84 is mounted around the guiding portion 83. In addition, depending on the user's need, a protecting plate (not shown) can be pivoted on so that it can be controlled to open or close the guiding portion 83. However, this kind of conventional drink cover 80 has the following disadvantages:

(1) Its application scope is narrow. Because the

drink cover

80 has a flange 81 for fitting on the top end of the easy-open can 90, it is only suitable for a specific size of the easy-open can. It is impossible to fit on other easy-open cans with different diameter. So, its application scope is narrow.

(2) Its volume is too large so it will influence the original packing volume. Most easy-open cans are packed in a box (having 24 cans) or wrapped by a plastic film (having six cans). The packing height is identical to the can's height. If the

conventional drink cover

80 is fitted on the can, its packing method will be totally changed. It not only increases the packing volume, but also raises the cost for modifying the packing equipment. Thus, it is hard to combine the easy-open can and the drink cover 80 together.

(3) While shaking, the liquid inside the can will spill out. Assume that there is no protecting plate on the

conventional drink cover

80. While this can is shaking (such as the can is opened and put on a bicycle or on an automobile's can holder, but bicycle or the automobile passes through a bad road), the liquid inside the can is quite possible to spill out. Even though the liquid might not spill out, some of the liquid will stay in the space between the top surface of the easy-open can 90 and the drink cover 80.

(4) Its structure is complex and its manufacturing cost is high. The

conventional drink cover

80 not only has a flange 81 for tight fitting, but also has an upward protruded guiding portion 83. It is complex. So, its manufacturing cost is high.

(5) It cannot secure a straw. The

conventional drink cover

80 does not have any holding structure for securing a straw.

(6) It influences the drinking feeling. Because of the guiding

portion

83 of the conventional drinking cover 80 is made by low-priced plastic, when the user's month touches the plastic guiding portion 83, the touching feeling and flow control are totally different than before. It significant influences the original drinking feeling.

Besides, due to the tear-

away pull tab

98 is easy to cause another damage for our environment again, a new non-tear-away pull tab was invented. As shown in FIG. 2 (before pressing down) and 3 (after pressing down), this pull tab will not separate from the can. However, after the user opening this easy-open can, the user usually hopes to avoid dirt or fly dropping in. Also, the user wants to avoid the liquid spilling out while it is shaking or the can falls down.

Therefore, a new product needs to be invented to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can. While shaking, if it is at the full-close position, the liquid in the easy-open can will not spill out.

The second object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can. It has many operation modes and can be easily switched.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can. In which, its application scope is wide. Its volume is small. And, it will not influence its original packing volume.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can. It has a simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost. And, it can secure a straw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional easy-open can with a tear-away pull tab. [0017]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional easy-open can when the non-tear-away pull tab is flat. [0018]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another conventional easy-open can when the non-tear-away pull tab is pressed down. [0019]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention. [0020]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention that is installed on the top end of an easy-open can. [0021]
FIG. 6 shows the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0022]
FIG. 7 shows the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0023]
FIG. 8 shows the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0024]
FIG. 9 shows the present invention at the full-open position. [0025]
FIG. 10 shows the present invention at the full-close position. [0026]
FIG. 11 shows the present invention at the semi-open position. [0027]
FIG. 12 shows the present invention at the straw-holding position.[0028]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. [0029] 3 to 12, the present invention is an auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can. It is a rotatable plate structure. The auxiliary rotatable cover 10 mainly comprises a central recess 20, a main recess 30, a sliding rim 40 and a turning portion 50.
With regard to the [0030] central recess 20, it is used to insert in and contact with the pull tab rivet 91 of the easy-open can 90 so as to be a rotating center of the auxiliary rotatable cover 10.
The [0031] main recess 30 and central recess 20 are connected. The main recess 30 can face to the outlet 92 of the easy-open can 90. The width W1 of the main recess 30 is slightly larger than the width W2 of the easy-open can's pull tab 92. In addition, the main recess 30 could be an opened recess shape (as shown in FIG. 6) or a closed hole shaped (as shown in FIG. 7).
Concerning the sliding [0032] rim 40, it has a predetermined curved length. It could be an entire circle (as shown in FIG. 7) or a fan-shaped section (as shown in FIG. 8). It is slightly smaller than the inner edge of the rim 93 on the top end of the easy-open can 90.
The turning [0033] portion 50 is used for the user's finger to touch and rotate the auxiliary rotatable cover 10 to a desired position.
So, the auxiliary [0034] rotatable cover 10 at least can be rotated to a full-open position P1, a semi-open position P2 and a full-close position P3.
In which, the full-open position P[0035] 1 is defined by that the main recess 30 completely faces to the outlet 92 of the easy-open can 90. The semi-open position P2 is defined by that the main recess 30 partially faces to the outlet 92 of the easy-open can 90. The full-close position P3 is defined by that the main recess 30 complete not faces to the outlet 92 of the easy-open can 90 so that the outlet 92 is covered (or closed).
Of course, a [0036] straw holding portion 60 for securing a straw 94 can be additionally disposed on the auxiliary rotatable cover 10 for an easy-open can. And, this auxiliary rotatable cover 10 can be rotated to a straw-holding position P4. At the straw-holding position P4, the straw holding section 60 completely faces to the outlet 92 of the easy-open can 90.
Furthermore, the structure of the turning [0037] portion 50 of the auxiliary rotatable cover 10 can be changed. It can be just the top surface (as shown in FIG. 4) of the auxiliary rotatable cover 10. That is, the user's finger can press on it and makes it rotate. Or, as shown in FIG. 7, the turning portion 50 becomes an embossed or upward protruded portion so that the user can easily rotate it.
Please see FIG. 6, the turning [0038] portion 50 can be modified as an extension plate extending from the sliding rim 40 of the auxiliary rotatable cover 10. This extension plate is slidable on the rim 93 of the top end of the easy-open can 90.
In addition, the turning [0039] portion 50 can be modified as a protrusion element disposed on a predetermined position of the top end of the auxiliary rotatable cover 10. For example, it could be a rough plate (having larger frictional force) adhered on the auxiliary rotatable cover 10 by glue, as shown in FIG. 8.
With regard to the [0040] straw holding section 60, it can be a circular hole, a cross-shaped hole or a combined hole. More specifically, the combined hole has a central hole and several slot extending out. No matter what type it is, the straw holding section 60 has the function to secure a straw 94.
In operation (if using the structure of the second preferred embodiment in FIG. 6 as an example), the user's finger touches and rotates the turning [0041] portion 50 to the full-open position P1 as shown in FIG. 9. At this moment, the user can drink as usual. After which, the user can rotate it to the semi-open position P2 as shown in FIG. 10 to clip the straw 94. If there is no any straw 94 or the straw 94 is taken out, the user can rotate to the full-close position P3 as shown in FIG. 11. So, the entire outlet 92 is covered (or closed). Meanwhile, it can avoid dirt dropping in or the fly touching the outlet 92. Also, while the easy-open can 90 is shaking or falling down, the liquid inside the easy-open can 90 will not spill out. Of course, the user can rotate it to the straw-holding position P4 as shown in FIG. 12 and insert into a straw 94. Anyway, it depends on the user's need. The present invention can be rotated to a desired position (operation mode) quickly. It is very convenient for operation. The advantages and functions of the present invention can be summarized as follows:
[1] It has many functions and easy to switch. This invention has many operation modes. The user can use finger to switch to a desired operation mode, so it is very easy to operate. [0042]
[2] Its application scope is wide. For the easy-open can with non-tear-away pull tab, there is a [0043] pull tab rivet 91. This invention can be installed on this pull tab rivet 91. Even the size of the flange of the top end of the existing easy-open cans might be different (a little larger or smaller), this invention still can be installed.
[3] The volume is small so it will not influence its original packing volume. The present invention is thin and small. It will not influence its original packing volume. Thus, it can be combined with the easy-open can as one integral unit for selling. [0044]
[4] While shaking, the drink will not spill out. Assume that the present invention is rotated to the full-close position P[0045] 3. No matter the easy-open can is placed on the bicycle or on the automobile's can holder, if this can is shaking (such as when the bicycle or the automobile passes through a bad road), the liquid inside the easy-open can will not spill out. For a walker, rider, driver or passenger, this invention also can avoid dirt dropping in or the fly contacting with the outlet 92.
[5] Its structure is simple and the manufacturing cost is low. Although the present invention has many functions, but its structure is quite sample. Its manufacturing cost is low. [0046]
[6] It can secure a straw. The straw can be clipped at the semi-open position P[0047] 2 or be inserted in and secured by the straw holding portion 60 at the straw-holding position P4 easily.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [0048]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can comprising:

a central recess to insert in and contact with a pull tab rivet of an easy-open can so as to be a rotating center of said auxiliary rotatable cover;

a main recess connected with said central recess, said main recess facing to an outlet of said easy-open can, and a width of said main recess being slightly larger than a width of a pull tab of said easy-open can;

a sliding rim having a predetermined curved length smaller than an inner edge of a rim on said easy-open can;

a turning portion to be touched to rotate said auxiliary rotatable cover;

so that said auxiliary rotatable cover at least including a full-open position, a semi-open position, and a full-close position; wherein, said full-open position is defined by that the main recess completely faces to the outlet of the easy-open can; said semi-open position is defined by that the main recess partially faces to the outlet of the easy-open can; said full-close position is defined by that the main recess completely not faces to the outlet of the easy-open can and the outlet is covered.

2. The auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary rotatable cover further comprising a straw holding portion for securing a straw, and wherein when said auxiliary rotatable cover is at the straw-holding position, the straw holding section fully faces to the outlet of the easy-open can.

3. The auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can as claimed in claim 1, wherein said turning portion is an upward protruded portion.

4. The auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can as claimed in claim 1, wherein said turning portion is an extension plate extending from the sliding rim of the auxiliary rotatable cover so that said extension plate is slidable on the rim of the top end of the easy-open can.

5. The auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can as claimed in claim 2, wherein said straw holding section is a circular hole.

6. The auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can as claimed in claim 2, wherein said straw holding section is a cross-shaped hole.

7. The auxiliary rotatable cover for an easy-open can as claimed in claim 2, wherein said straw holding section is a combined hole that has a central hole and several slot extending out.