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This application is the continuation of my patent application Ser. No. 13/565,795, with the title Beverage Can Sealer And Holder.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
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While one is drinking beverage from a can, he or she has to hold the can steadily and vertically to avoid spillage. I have designed a beverage can sealer with a resealable pull-up drink spout, which allows one to carry around an opened beverage can, which is sealed by the beverage can sealer, and drink his favorite beverage (soda or beer) through the resealable drink spout while he is actively engaged in activities and exercise, such as power walking, jogging, biking, swimming, etc. An opened beverage can is thus made portable in any circumstance and one no longer has to hold a opened beverage can upright to avoid spillage, as if it were a cup of hot coffee.
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The pull-up resealable drink spout commonly installed on the sports bottles is convenient to use but requires that the bottles be squeezed for the beverage to come out. However, for the bottles with a rigid wall or inexpansible wall, such as metal bottles, hard plastic bottles and aluminum soda cans, they can not be squeezed and therefore the available pull-up drink spout for the sports bottle is not useful. Sucking on such a drink spout creates vacuum within the bottle, which in turn sucks the oral mucosa onto the drink spout.
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I have designed a resealable pull-up drink spout to be installed on the beverage can sealer, which allows unimpeded outflow of the beverage.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
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The beverage can sealer is a round cap with a short cylindrical wall and is joined to a cylindrical beverage can holder by spiral threads. The beverage can sealer has two layers, the outer layer and inner horizontal layer. In the outer layer is incorporated a drink spout having a stem with a wide canal. The inner horizontal layer is perforated like a sieve and has a plug for the canal of the stem. The stem slides up from the plug to open and down onto the plug to close. On the undersurface of the inner horizontal is a circular ridge. The beverage flows out of the can, through the perforations in the sieve-like inner layer, then into the space between the inner and outer layers of the beverage can sealer and then out of the drink spout. The inner layer compresses the top edge of the rim of the beverage can with its undersurface while the circular ridge presses the external periphery of the rim, achieving water-tight sealing of the opened beverage can. In this design, the drink spout and the beverage can sealer are integrated into each other as a complex.
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The cylindrical wall of the beverage can sealer overlaps with the beverage can holder, thus the beverage can sealer can be twisted downward along the spiral threads on the outer surface of the beverage can holder like a screw cap for the beverage can, enabling tight compression of the rim by the inner layer and occlusion of the top portion of the opened beverage can.
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Some designs of beverage can sealers feature a circular ridge which presses the top surface of a beverage can within its rim. However, when the rim is bent, such beverage can sealer may not fit, because the bent rim obstructs the rotation of such circular ridge. As the rim is always bent inward, thus a bent rim will not impede the rotation of the circular ridge pressing on its external periphery.
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The design of a beverage can sealer occluding the top of an opened beverage can by pressing on the circular rim of its top while being anchored onto the beverage can holder through the spiral threads can be applied as a sealer and holder to other cylindrical containers with an open top, for example, a drinking glass.
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The opening of a beverage can is in a awkward position, because it is surrounded by a width of border, which keeps the opening away from the wall of the beverage can and impedes the free outflow of the residual beverage. Therefore, one has to bend his or her neck as backward as possible in order to drain the remaining beverage. The beverage can sealer solves this problem. One just inverts the beverage can and shakes it to expel the remaining beverage into the space between the beverage can sealer and the top surface of the can and then drink it up through the drink spout.
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The drink spout is installed at the periphery of the outer layer of the beverage can sealer so that it will be at the lowest point when the beverage can is turned horizontal or upside down, allowing optimal draining of beverage. Diametrical to it on the periphery of the outer layer is a small aperture. The outward flow of the beverage from the drink spout is impeded by the ambient atmospheric pressure. If one sucks on the drink spout, then a vacuum is created within the beverage can, which in turn sucks the oral mucosa onto the drink spout. The small aperture on the beverage can sealer balances the pressure inside and out of the beverage can and allows the unimpeded outflow of the beverage.
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The drink spout of my design can be applied to different types of beverage containers with rigid or inexpansible walls.
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Another version of beverage can sealer with drink spout features an L-shaped drink spout, which is a resealable pull-up drink spout whose internal distal part of the tube turns 90 degree to be horizontal and points to the edge of the beverage can sealer. The drink spout is also installed at the periphery of the beverage can sealer. Therefore, when the beverage can is held in a horizontal position for drinking, the internal distal tube is vertical and its tip reaches the lowest fluid level, which achieves the same result as when the beverage can is tipped upward or inverted in an effort to finish up the remaining beverage. Therefore, the L-shaped drink spout obviates the need to turn the beverage can upside down in order to empty the residual beverage in the can, as in the case of a straight drink spout.
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When one turns a beverage bottle vertical, for example, a sports bottle, to finish up the residual beverage in it through a straight drink spout, the neck has to be bent maximally backward and the face is turned to the sky, which significantly compromises the observation, movement and balance. The L-shaped drink spout is ergonomically superior to the straight drink spout and is ideal for people who is engaged in sports activities.
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With the L-shaped drink spout, one no longer has to bend his neck backward to finish the residual beverage in a can. He can simply turn the beverage can upside down and drain the residual beverage into the space between the can and the can sealer. Then he can finish up the beverage through the L-shaped drink spout without tipping his head. It is also convenient to use for people who can not bend their due to medical conditions, such as cervical spine arthritis and meningitis.
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This beverage can sealer has a circular ledge, which projects from its inner wall and has a circular ridge on its undersurface. Its undersurface and the circular ridge press the top edge and external periphery of the rim of a beverage can respectively and occlude the top portion of an opened beverage can.
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There is an air inlet aperture at the periphery of the beverage can sealer diametrical to the L-shaped drink spout. The outward flow of the beverage from the drink spout is impeded by the ambient atmospheric pressure. Sucking on the drink spout creates a vacuum within the bottle, which further impede the outflow of the beverage. The air inlet aperture balances the pressure inside and outside of the beverage can and allows the unimpeded outflow of the beverage through the drink spout.
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The L-shaped drink spout of my design can also be applied to different types of beverage containers with rigid or inexpansible walls.
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Sealed and pressurized carbonated beverage upon being frozen will release the dissolved CO2 and expand its volume, which sometimes causes the beverage can to burst or explode, causing bodily injury. Therefore, a beverage can hold with solid wall will not allow the release of pressure and expelled content when the frozen beverage can burst and therefore is potentially hazardous. The wall of the beverage can holder of my design is a non-solid framework and openings are made on it. The openings can be in the decorative shape of stripes, lattice or balloons, etc. The base of the beverage can holder is also non-solid with decorative openings.
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The upper part of the holder is threaded so as to firmly anchor the sealer cap which has a corresponding threaded inner wall surface.
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I have also designed a short holder features a circular band as the anchor for the sealer or the screw cap, instead of the long holder to cover the whole length of the beverage can.
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The circular band wraps tightly around a beverage can and has a vertical slit, which makes it an open ring. Two semicircular strips, which are preferably made of thin metal sheet, are attached to the inner wall of the circular band and face each other. Each semicircular strip arises obliquely from its attachment on the circular band, but its serrated edge horizontally embraces the beverage can just below its rim.
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It is necessary for the vertical slit to be stretched slightly open by the beverage can, so that when the beverage can sealer is screwed on to the circular band, the vertical slit is closed and the semicircular strips are pressed against the wall of the beverage can. The edge of the two semicircular strips can be pushed downward to decrease the distance between the semicircular strips to ensure that beverage can stretches the vertical slit open. This can be easily achieved by pushing the bottom of a beverage can downward against the semicircular strips.
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When the beverage can sealer is screwed on to the circular band or the short holder, it closes the opened vertical slit, presses the serrated edges of semicircular strips against the wall of the beverage can just below its rim and immobilizes the circular band or the short holder on to the beverage can.
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The closing of the vertical slit necessitates the decrease of the internal diameter of the circular band, which is achieved by the downward shifting of the attachment site of the semicircular strips on the interior wall of the circular band, when it is being squeezed by the sealer or the screw cap of the beverage can. In the meantime, the edge of the semicircular strips are immobilized below the rim of the beverage can.
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A pair of square recess and square projection which fit each other precisely is in the path of the vertical slit and ensures the alignment of the spiral threads on the circular holder while the slit is stretched open by a beverage can.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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FIG. 1 demonstrates the beverage can sealer/drink spout complex, which has two layers. The outer layer has the stem of the drink spout and the inner layer is perforated like a sieve, has the plug for the stem of the drink spout and compresses the rim of the beverage can.
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FIG. 2 demonstrates the beverage can sealer with a L-shaped drink spout.
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FIG. 3 demonstrates a beverage can holder.
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FIG. 4 demonstrates the cross-sectional view of the circular band and its two semicircular strips pressing the beverage can below its rim after the beverage can sealer is screwed on to it.
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FIG. 5 demonstrates the circular band with a vertical slit and two semicircular strips with serrated edge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage can sealer/drink spout complex has two layers, the outer layer 1 and the horizontal inner layer 2. The outer layer incorporates the stem of the drink spout 3. The inner layer has perforations 4 like a sieve and has the plug 5 for the stem of the drink spout 3. On its undersurface is a circular ridge 22. The drink stem 3 slides up from the plug 5 to open and down onto the plug to close.
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The drink spout 3 is installed at the periphery of the outer layer 1 of the beverage can sealer, so that it would be at the lowest point when the beverage can is turned horizontal or upside down, allowing optimal draining of beverage. At its diametrical side of the periphery of the outer layer is a small aperture 6, which balances the pressure inside and out of the beverage can and allows the unimpeded outflow of the beverage.
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The beverage flows out of the can through the perforations 4 in the sieve-like inner layer, then into the space between the inner and outer layers of the beverage can sealer and then out of the drink spout 3.
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The horizontal inner layer 2 compresses the top edge of the rim 7 of the beverage can with its undersurface and the circular ridge 22 presses the external periphery of the rim, thus achieving water-tight sealing of the opened beverage can. In this design, the drink spout and the beverage can sealer are integrated into each other as a complex.
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The foam on top of the beverage prevents the beverage from exudating through the small aperture. There is no perforation in the horizontal inner layer beneath the small aperture. This solid part of the inner layer may prevent the exudation of the beverage through the aperture.
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FIG. 2 shows another version of beverage can sealer and drink spout. The beverage can sealer has a circular ledge 8 projecting from the periphery of its inner wall. On its undersurface is a circular ridge 22. The circular ledge compresses the top edge of the rim 7 of the beverage can with its undersurface while the circular ridge 22 presses the external periphery of the rim 7, occluding the top portion of an opened beverage can.
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An L-shaped drink spout is installed at the periphery of the beverage can sealer. It is composed of a stem 9 with a central canal 10, and a tube 11 within which the stem slides up and down. The distal part of the tube 12 turns ninety degree to be horizontal and points to the edge of the beverage can sealer. When the stem 9 is pressed down, it rests on a plug 13 on the horizontal part of the distal tube 12, thus blocking its central canal 10 and the distal tube 12 too. When the stem 9 is pulled up, its central canal 10 and the distal tube 12 are unblocked, allowing the outflow of beverage.
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The ledge 8 below the drink spout is perforated 4 to prevent retention of beverage by the ledge.
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Diametrical to the L-shaped drink spout at the periphery of the beverage can sealer is an air inlet aperture 6. It cancels out the vacuum created inside the beverage can by sucking on the drink spout, balances the pressure inside and out of the beverage can, and allows unimpeded outflow of the beverage.
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The foam on top of the beverage prevents the beverage from exudating through the small aperture. In addition, the circular ledge beneath the small aperture is wider than the other part of the circular ledge and may also impede the beverage from exudating through the small aperture.
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FIG. 3 demonstrates a beverage can holder 14 with a wall which is in the form of framework and in this example is in the form of lattice 15. The base of the beverage can holder is also non-solid with decorative openings. The upper end of the beverage holder is threaded 16. The beverage can sealer is also threaded 16 in its inner wall and is firmly anchored on the beverage can holder, compressing the rim of the beverage can with its circular ledge.
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The cylindrical wall of the beverage can sealer overlaps with the beverage can holder, thus the beverage can sealer can be twisted downward as far as necessary along the spiral threads 16 on the outer surface of the beverage can holder like a screw cap for the beverage can, such that the inner horizontal layer or the circular ledge arising from the inner wall of the beverage can sealer tightly compresses the rim of the beverage can and occludes the top portion of an opened beverage can and creates a water-tight sealing.
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As demonstrated in FIG. 4, the beverage can sealer 17 is screwed on to the circular band 18, presses the rim 7 of the beverage can with its circular ledge 8 and the external periphery of the rim with the circular ridge 22. Two semicircular strips 19, which are preferably made of thin metal sheet, are attached to the upper end of the interior wall of the circular band 18 and face each other. Each semicircular strip 19 arises obliquely from its attachment site 20 on the interior wall of circular band 18, but its edge, which is serrated, almost horizontally embraces the beverage can just below its rim 7.
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As shown in FIG. 5, the circular band 18 with a vertical slit 20 is an open ring and is slipped on to the beverage can, which stretch the vertical slit 20 slightly open.
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When the beverage can sealer is screwed on to the circular band 18 or the short holder as shown in FIG. 4, it would close the opened vertical slit 20 as shown in FIG. 5, push the two semicircular strips 19 towards the center, therefore press the serrated edges of semicircular strips 19 against the wall of the beverage can just below its rim 7 and immobilizes the circular band 18 or the short holder on the beverage can.
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It is necessary for the beverage can to stretch the circular band 18 slightly open, so that when the beverage can sealer is screwed onto the circular band 18 and closes the vertical slit 20, the semicircular strip 19 squeezes the beverage can tightly. The semicircular strips 19, which arise from their attachment sites 20 on the interior wall of the circular band 18, can have their edges pressed downward to decrease the distance between the semicircular strips 19. This can be easily achieved by pushing the bottom of a beverage can downward against the semicircular strips 19 and pressing their edges downward.
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The closing of the vertical slit 20 as shown in in FIG. 5 necessitates the decrease of the internal diameter of the circular band 18, which is made possible by the downward shifting of the attachment site 20 of semicircular strips on the interior wall of the circular band 18 as shown in FIG. 4, while the edge of the semicircular strip 19 is immobilized against the wall of the beverage can below the rim 7.
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A pair of square recess and square projection 21 which fit each other precisely is in the path of the vertical slit 20 and ensures the alignment of the spiral threads 16 on the circular band 18 while the vertical slit 20 is stretched open by a beverage can.
