Filed : 24 April 2000 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to flip-top beverage cans.

2. Prior Art Flip-top beverage cans are typically stored or displayed for sale without any packaging. Overtime contaminants accumulate on their tops/ends and especially around the end's crevice. These contaminants mix with the overflow of the bever age from the can and is washed into the digestive system of a consumer who directly drinks from the can. Even when the beverages are poured into a glass, the contaminants on the rim would still be washed into the glass.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the present sanitary and protective cover are: (a) to provide a sanitary cover that seals the head and neck of the can; (b) to provide a protective cover for aluminum cans making use of different mate rials and combination thereof; (c) to be easy and inexpensive to make and apply ; (d) to provide a sanitary cover that eliminates the direct contact of the lips and mouth of consumers to the unhealthy particles that reside on top of the can; (e) to provide a cover material and combination of materials that is easily flexible, malleable, teareable, adhesible and stackable ; (f) to provide a cover material that is printable ; (g) to provide a cover with a flared skirt to protect the shoulder of the can.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This present invention provides a solution to the health and hygiene problem encountered by consumers when drinking direct from flip-top cans, by suggesting an article and a method of covering the surface, neck and down to the portion of the can that comes in direct contact with the lips of the consumers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING Fig. 1 & 1A is a perspective view of the present sanitary and protective cover posi tioned over a conventional beverage can.

Fig. 2& 2A is a perspective view of the pesent cover attached to the can.

Fig. 3 & 3A is a cutaway view of the present cover on the beverage can.

Fig. 4 & 4A is a view of a flat sheet being formed onto the beverage can.

Fig. 5 & 5A is a perspective view of a flat sheet being pressed onto the can.

Fig. 6 & 6A are various ways of detachments.

Fig. 7 to 7F are preferred embodiments thereof.

Fig. 8 is a view of linked covers.

Fig. 9 & 9A are views of print promotionals beneath the surface of the cover.

Fig. 10 & 10 A are views of print promotionals on the top surface of the cover.

Fig. 11 & 11A are other promotional embodiments thereof.

Fig. 12 & 12A are also promotional embodiments thereof.

Fig. 13 is shows another function of the cover.

Fig. 14 is the first and original embodiment thereof.

Fig. 15 & 15A are original embodiments thereof.

Fig. 16 & 16A are also original embodiments thereof.

Fig. 17 & 17A are still original embodiments thereof.

Fig. 18 is an original view of a tab and a perforation on the cover.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS

10. Cover 11. Top/Opening 12. Beverage Can 13. Disc 14. Concave Rim 15. Flared Skirt 16. Convex Lip 17. Shoulder 18. Transition 19. Vertical Wall 20. Flat Sheet 21. Flat Sheet 22. Press 23. Cavity 24. Covers 25. Links 26. Print Promo 27. Beverage 28. Tab 29. Perforation DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figs. 1-3 & 1A-3A: A first embodiment of the present sanitary cover is shown in a perspective view in Fig. 1 & 1A. It is comprised of a flexible cover 10 for the top 11 of a conventional beverage can 12. Cover 10 is comprised of a round disc 13, a concave rim 14 around the perimeter of a disc 13 and a flared skirt 15 extend ing from concave rim 14. Rim 14 is convex when viewed from the inside of cover 10.

Cover 10 may be made out of a plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropy lene, nylon, paper, aluminum, and other present and future materials and combi nations, etc. Cover 10 is applied on top of the can by virtue of combination tech

nologies in molding, extrusion, capping, wrapping, punching, sealing and adhe sion. In Fig. 2 & 2A, cover 10 is applied to the can 12.

In Fig. 3 concave rim 14 of cover 10 is snugly engaged around a convex lip 16 of can 12 to retain cover 10 in position. Flared skirt 15 is shaped to conform closely to a tapered shoulder 17 of can 12 and is long enough to extend at least down to a transition 18 between tapered shoulder 17 and a vertical wall 19 of can 12.

Advertising may be printed on cover 10.

Accordingly, top 11 and shoulder 17 of can 12 are protected by cover 10 from contaminants. Cover 10 can be easily peeled off from can 12.

Fig. 4 & 4A: As shown in Fig. 4, the cover 10 may also be made by molding a flat sheet 20 and heat shrink applied onto top 11 of can 12. Alternately, sheet 20 may be glued.

Fig. 5 & 5A : As shown in Fig. 5, another method for making the crown is comprised of pressing a flat sheet 21 onto top 11 of can 12 with a press 22. A cavity 23 in press 22 is shaped to conform to top 11 of can 12. Flat sheet 21 may be made of any deformable material, such as paper, aluminum, plastic, etc. Flat sheet 21 may be retained on can 12 by friction, adhesion, meachanically tightening, etc.

Fig. 6 & 6A: As shown in Fig. 6, cover 10 is detached from can 12 by inserting finger under

spaces provided in between the flared skirt 15 of cover 10. In Fig. 6A, cover 10 is shown as completely detached and separated from top 11 of can 12 Figs. 7 to 7F: Cover 10 is shown on top 11 of can 12 in two variations. Fig. 7 is made of modified aluminum, while Fig. 7A is made of modified plastic. Fig. 7B shows a variation of a flared skirt 15 of cover 10 on can 12. Fig. 7C shows another varia tion of a flared skirt 15 on top 11 of can 12. Figs. 7E and 7F shows another variation of a flared skirt 15 on top 11 of can 12.

Fig. 8 : A plurality of covers 24 are connected together with integral links 25 there be tween, and are prefferably made by molding. The plurality of linked 25 covers 24 on top of multi-pack cans may be applied by heat-shrink wrapping, pressing, gluing and mechanically tight-fitting.

Figs. 9 & 9A: As shown in Fig. 9 is cover 10 with flared skirt 15 promoting 26 a winning. Fig 9A illustrates linked 25 covers 24 wherein flared skirt 15 as points of attachments.

Cover 10 with flared skirt 15 is shown as print promoting 26 various products.

Figs. 10 & 1 OA : Fig. 10 shows an exploded view of a print promo 26 on the surface of cover 10 with the flared skirt 15 distinctly emphasized herewith. Fig. 10A shows covers 24 linked 25 at points of flared skirt 15. Different print promos 26 are displayed.

Figs. 11 & 11A: In Fig. 11, a print promo 26 features cover 10 with the flared skirt 15 being shown as a source of amusement. Fig. 11A shows another print promo 26 wherein cover 10 with flared skirt 15 distinctly promoting 26 a beverage 27.

Figs. 12 & 12 A: Still another embodiment of a print promo 26 is shown, wherein a giant can 12 with a giant cover 10 and giant flared skirt 15 eliciting excitement. Fig. 12A shows another print promo 26 wherein cover 10 with flared skirt 15 as being used to promote not only beverages but also services.

Fig. 13: The enclosing and extended features of the flared skirt 15 of cover 10 finds use similar to ashtrays.

Fig. 14: Is an original embodiment of cover 10 with flared skirt 15.

Fig. 15 & 15 A : In Fig. 15 & 15 A, cover 10 is surrounded with flared skirt 15.

Fig. 16 & 16 A: Fig. 16 combined aluminum and plastic for cover 10 with flared skirt 15.

Fig. 17: Shows original embodiment of cover 10 on top 11 of can 12.

Fig. 18: Shows flared skirt 15 with tab 28 and perforation 29.

SUMMARY AND SCOPE Accordingly, the present sanitary cover 10 protects the top 11 of a flip-top beverage can 12 from contaminants. The flared skirt 15 protects the shoulder 17 of the can 12 from contaminants. The cover 10 is easy to apply and detach from the can 12 and inexpensive to make. Cover 10 with flared skirt 15 also provides space for print promotional 26.

Although the above description is specific, it should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the preffered embodiment. Many variations are possible with the teachings of the invention.

For example, different attachment methods, fasteners, materials, dimensions, contortions, etc. can be used and applied unless specifically indicated otherwise.

The relative positions of the elements can vary, and the shapes of the elements can vary. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given.