STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of containers, and more particularly to a beverage can.

Description of Related Art As can be seen by reference to the following U. S. Patent Nos. 5, 405, 039; 5, 415, 313; 5,813,561 and 5,823,404, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse beverage can designs.

While of the aforementioned prior art constructions are mo : tan adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical beverage can.

As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved beverage can and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefiy stated, the present invention provides a beverage can including a cylindrical can body and an attached top. The top has an outlet opening disposed to one side of the top adjacent the rim juncture between the top and the cylindrical body.

A contoured indentation is positioned in the can body Immediately below the rim in alignment with the outlet opening. The contoured indentation provides a surface for the lower lip of the drinker to form a seal without applying undo pressure. As a result, the beverage flows more readily from the can and the opportunity for spills around the comers of the mouth is minimal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS These and other attributes of the invention will become more dear upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: FIG. Us a side elevational view illustrating the beverage can of the present invention in use; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage can in an unopened condition; FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of the beverage can ; and FIG. 4 Is a top plan view of the beverage can in the open condition with the contoured indentation aligned with the outlet opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particularly to FltG. 1, the beverage can that forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally

by the refers FnumberlO. ThecanlOincfuaesacytindncafbody w : nan integrally formed bottom 30 and an attached top 40 that forms a top rim juncture So when attached to the upper edge 22 of the cylindrical body 20. The top 40 includes an outlet opening 42 disposed to one side adjacent the rim 8G and an opening mechanism 44 disposed interior of and adjacent to the opening 42.

A contoured indentation 60 is formed in the cylindrical can body 20 near upper edge 22 immediately below the rim 50. The indentation 60 accommodates the shape of a drinker's lower lip 100 and a seal is formed between the indentation 60 and lip 100 without applying undo pressure. in use, the beverage can 10 results in a ready flow of beverage 101 from the can 10 while minimizing spills around the comers of the mouth. The can 10 has a large impact on the drinkability of a beverage 101. The indentation 60 could be easily incorporated into a highly automated environment at very little cost.

Although only an exemplary embodiment of the Invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that. many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.