RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/496,653 to Webster, filed October 25, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A beverage can container is a closed vessel, typically made of a metal, for holding a measured amount of liquid for human consumption. Can capacity varies throughout the world, but is generally between 300-500 ml (355 ml or 12 ounces in the U.S.). The contents of the beverage container may or may not be under pressure. Each beverage can is closed and sealed, enclosing its apportioned liquid, but each beverage container typically has a built-in opening mechanism. Approximately 350 billion such beverage cans are manufactured annually worldwide. About three-fourths of the world's annual production of such cans are manufactured from aluminum, while the remaining one-fourth are mostly steel cans, plated with tin ("tin cans"). Very thin linings made of plastic polymer usually prevent the liquid beverage contents from reacting to the metal of the can.

[0003] As shown in Fig. 1 , conventional beverage containers 100 usually have a built-in opening mechanism 102. These opening mechanisms have included the now defunct pop-tab, the press button, and the popular stay-on- tab, also known as the "sta-tab" or "stay-tab" opening device 102 (Reynolds Metals, Richmond, Virginia). The size of the opening 104 revealed by the opening mechanism 102 varies, such as a standard size and a wide-mouth size. Almost all beverage containers 100 currently use the stay-tab opening device 102, which consists of a stiff aluminum ringed lever, actuator, or tab 106 attached to the top of the can 100 by a rivet 108. The tab 106 creates leverage against a pre-scored area 110 of the metal of the can top, using successive fulcrums during the act of opening the can 100. The ringed tab 106 is pulled up by the human beverage consumer to create upward force at the rivet 108 using the top of the pressurized can as a fulcrum at the end of the lever 106. When the scored metal 110 outlining the area that is to become the opening 104 breaks the scored can open near the rivet 108, pressure is released from the can 100, and the fulcrum shifts converting the lever 106 from a lifting lever to a see-saw type lever that pivots at the rivet 108, now providing downward force at the end of the lever 106 to drive the metal of the previously scored area 110 of the can down into the interior of the can 100 to create the can opening 104.

[0004] Once open, most disposable beverage cans 100 are not reclosable, and the open hole 104 is subject to liquid loss, carbonation loss, and intrusion by bees, insects, and other foreign objects. A small percentage of cans have resealable openings, such as a beverage can made by Cogitocan (Champforgeuil, France), but the resealable opening is a relatively complex and expensive additional apparatus, and relatively difficult to manufacture. Once reclosed, the consumer must reopen the Cogtiocan container to access the liquid, and cannot drink through the reclosable mechanism.

[0005] Most metal beverage cans manufactured in the United States are made of aluminum. In some parts of Europe and Asia, approximately 55 percent of beverage cans are made of steel and 45 percent are aluminum alloy. Steel cans often have a top made of aluminum. The aluminum used in United States and Canada are alloys containing 92.5% to 97% aluminum, less than 5.5% magnesium, less than 1.6% manganese, less than 0.15% chromium and some trace amounts of iron, silicon, and copper according to specifications from aluminum producer Alcoa. Alloys used may include 3004, 3105, or other 3xxx/5xxx series aluminum.

[0006] Several attempts have been made to provide a bug guard for the stay-tab opening of a beverage can. U.S. Patent No. 5,887,742 to Lewis describes a guard separate from the can that includes a retaining slot adapted to fit over the can tab actuator. This (plastic) bug guard is secured to the top lid of the can by bending the tab actuator upward, sliding the tab actuator through the retaining slot, and bending the tab actuator downward. The Lewis bug guard includes a plurality of apertures in alignment with the drink opening to allow a consumer to drink from the can while preventing insects and debris from entering the can through the drink opening. However, the Lewis device is a separate apparatus from the can, made of different materials than the can, and must be attached manually to the can as a separate item.

[0007] U.S. Patent Publication 20040094550 to Poole describes a pull tab with insect guard for drinks, wherein the beverage container has a moveable ring pull with a bug-restrictive openings in the ring pull itself. The ring pull is moveable over the opening of the container, and the opening is also sized to cooperate with the geometry of the ring pull to prevent foreign objects from coming into the opening of the can, while letting the contents of the can be poured out. The Poole can, however, would require extensive changes in the current process and machination for manufacturing standard beverage cans, a process that already optimizes the stay-tab 102 for making 350 billion beverage cans 100 annually. Moreover, the Poole can provides an opening that is restrictive and not very suitable for the consumer to drinking through.

SUMMARY

[0008] A stay-tab beverage can with protective guard is provided. An example protective guard made integral with beverage cans keeps insects and foreign objects out of the beverage can. Rotating versions of the protective guard can use the existing rivet of a stay-tab to accommodate the protective guard as an add-on to the manufacturing process. Other versions of the protective guard hinge or slide to protect the can's opening. Example designs of the protective guard are attached to the can in various ways, and rotate, flip, or slide to engage the opening of the beverage can. Some example designs of the guard can hold a drinking straw in place, with other versions cap or seal the beverage. A webbed version of the guard provides a grill or grate, while solid flap versions open for fluid flow and close when the flow stops. The protective guards may be made in various commercially desirable shapes and colors.

[0009] This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Certain embodiments of the disclosure will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein.

[0011] In the Figures, the shown parts are not necessarily to scale, and not necessarily in scale with regards to relative sizes and relative thicknesses of adjacent parts. Rather, the components of the Figures are sized and scaled relative to each other for purposes of description.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a diagram of an example conventional beverage can with stay-tab opening device. [0013] Fig. 2 is a diagram of an example beverage can with a rotatable webbed grill or grate protective guard attached at a rivet of the beverage can.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a diagram of an example webbed grill or grate protective guard in a football-themed design attached at a rivet of the beverage can.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a diagram of an example webbed grill or grate protective guard in a basketball-themed design attached at a rivet of the beverage can.

[0016] Fig. 5 is a diagram of an example simple barred-grill protective guard attached at a rivet of the beverage can.

[0017] Fig. 6 is a diagram of an example webbed grill or grate protective guard with ring for supporting a drinking straw, attached at a rivet of the beverage can.

[0018] Fig. 7 is a diagram of an example ringed grill or grate protective guard with one or more rings for supporting drinking straws attached at a rivet of the beverage can.

[0019] Fig. 8 is a diagram of an example grill or grate protective guard with solid surface provided for displaying a message or advertisement, attached at a rivet of the beverage can.

[0020] Fig. 9 is a diagram of an example grill or grate protective guard with solid surface provided for displaying a message or advertisement, and ring for a drinking straw, attached at a rivet of the beverage can.

[0021] Fig. 10 is a diagram of an example solid flap protective guard with solid surface provided for displaying a message or advertisement, and flexible crease for permitting fluid flow, attached at a rivet of the beverage can. [0022] Fig. 11 is a diagram of an example solid flap protective guard with solid surface provided for displaying a message or advertisement, and lips for sealing or capping the beverage.

[0023] Fig. 12 is a diagram of an example disk style protective guard, which may be placed above or below a tab of the beverage can.

[0024] Fig. 13 is a diagram of an example configuration for securing the protective guard to the beverage can with an example rivet.

[0025] Fig. 14 is a diagram of another example configuration for securing a protective guard to the beverage can with an example rivet.

[0026] Fig. 15 is a diagram of another example configuration for securing a protective guard to the beverage can with an example rivet.

[0027] Fig. 16 is a diagram of another example configuration for securing a protective guard to the beverage can with an example rivet 108.

[0028] Fig. 17 is a diagram of another example configuration for securing a protective guard to the beverage can with an example rivet.

[0029] Fig. 18 is a diagram of another example configuration for securing a protective guard to the beverage can around an example rivet.

[0030] Fig. 19 is a diagram of an example grill or grate design of a hinged protective guard.

[0031] Fig. 20 is a diagram of another example grill or grate design of a hinged protective guard.

[0032] Fig. 21 is a diagram of an example disk style design of a hinged protective guard. [0033] Fig. 22 is a diagram of an example sliding protective guard for a beverage can.

[0034] Fig. 23 is a diagram of example views of the sliding protective guard for a beverage can of Fig. 22.

[0035] Fig. 24 is a flow diagram of an example method of constructing a beverage can with rotational protective guard utilizing current manufacturing processes for a beverage can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

[0036] This disclosure describes stay-tab beverage cans with protective guards. In an implementation, a stay-tab beverage can has an example hygienic bee and bug guard (hereinafter "protective guard" or just "guard") built-in during manufacture of the can, or in another implementation, added-on during an additional step in the manufacture of the beverage can. Although the example protective guards can be part of the beverage can itself, a given protective guard on a can may be ignored if not needed.

[0037] Example designs of the protective guard are attached to the can in various ways, and rotate, flip, or slide to engage the opening of the beverage can. Various webbed designs of the protective guard keep insects and other foreign objects out of the beverage can while allowing the beverage to be consumed or poured out. Some webbed designs may also hold a drinking straw securely in the beverage can. Yet other example designs of the guard can cap or seal the beverage in the beverage can. In an implementation, some designs of the protective guard provide a solid flap that keeps insects and other foreign objects out of the beverage can, while moving valve-like to allow beverage to flow or be consumed. In another implementation, an example protective guard can be manufactured with the beverage can, and slides over the tab of the stay-tab feature of a beverage can to advance or retract over the opening of the beverage can.

Example Rotating Guard Designs

[0038] Fig. 2 shows an example beverage can 100, including a stay-tab opening device 102 secured to the beverage can 100 by a rivet 108. The rivet 108 may be drawn conventionally from the aluminum of the beverage can top. The beverage can 100 has an example protective guard 200 to keep foreign objects out of the beverage can 100. The example protective guard 200 may utilize a grill or grate design that allows fluid to pass while blocking bees, insects, and foreign objects. The example protective guard 200 is disposed above the stay-tab opening device 102 and rotatably secured to the beverage can 100 by the rivet 108. In an implementation, a strain-relief void 202 in the protective guard 200 enables flexing of the protective guard 200 near the rivet 108, which allows the protective guard 200 to flex and rotate independently of the stay-tab opening device 102 without interfering with the action of the stay- tab opening device 102. The strain-relief void may be formed in the metal or plastic of the protective guard 200 during manufacture, or may be cut later into the protective guard 200, after manufacture.

[0039] The strain-relief void 202 may be a crescent-shaped hole or void disposed partially around the rivet 108 that prevents the protective guard 200 from interfering with the leverage action of the stay-tab opening device 102.

[0040] In an example design, the protective guard 200 provides an ample opening 204 in the surface of the protective guard 200 for beverage flow, while the opening 204 is divided by bars 206 spaced to keep a foreign object out of an opening 104 of the beverage can 100.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows another example design of the protective guard 300, in which the bars 302 form a webbed grill or grate, which can also represent a sport symbol, for example a football. The bars 302 of the webbed grill or grate may also form a word, abbreviation, acronym, or initialism, for commercially desirable reasons. In this case, the bars 302 form the initialism NFA, for example. The bars 302 of the protective guard 300 can be customized to indicate a sports team or a sports league, for example. The protective guard 300 may be painted or colored in some other manner to display messages, symbols, logos, and so forth. The protective guard 300 may be made of aluminum, plastic, and other suitable materials.

[0042] Fig. 4 shows another example design of the protective guard 400, in which the bars 402 form a sport symbol, for example a basketball, and the bars 402 also form a word, abbreviation, acronym, or initialism. In this case, the bars 402 form the initialism NBL, for example. [0043] Fig. 5 shows another example design of the protective guard 500, in which the protective guard 500 provides an opening 502 for ample flow of the canned beverage, and the opening 502 in the surface of the example protective guard 500 has only a single inside bar 504 to keep foreign objects out of the opening 104 of the beverage can 100.

[0044] Fig. 6 shows another example webbed design of the protective guard 600. A ring 602 is included in the webbed grill design and connects to at least one of the bars 604 of the example webbed protective guard 600, capable of securing a drinking straw placed in the beverage can 100.

[0045] Fig. 7 shows another example design of the protective guard 700. The example protective guard 700 has an opening 702 in a surface of the protective guard 700. The opening is divided by a ring 704 to keep foreign objects out of the opening 104 of the beverage can 100. In an implementation, the ring 706 can be capable of securing a drinking straw in the beverage can 100.

[0046] Fig. 8 shows another example webbed design of the protective guard 800. The example protective guard 800 may have a solid surface 802 for displaying an advertisement, or other message or purpose. The example protective guard 800 may have both a solid surface 802 for displaying an advertisement, for example, and an opening 804 in the solid surface 802, the opening divided by bars 806 spaced to keep foreign object out of the opening 104 of the beverage can 100. [0047] Fig. 9 shows an example protective guard 900 with several different features. The protective guard 900 has a solid surface 902 for displaying a message or advertisement, and bars 904 to keep foreign objects out of the beverage can 100. A ring 906 is added among the bars 904 for holding a drinking straw in the beverage can 100.

[0048] Fig. 10 shows another example implementation of the example protective guard 1000. The example protective guard 1000 may be a solid flap 1002, that rotates on the rivet 108. The solid flap 1002 may have a built- in flexibility crease 1004, to hinge the protective guard 1000 for letting a beverage out of the beverage can 100. The ability to flex or hinge can provide the example protective guard 1000 with a valve-like utility, in which the solid flap 1002 lifts by the flow of fluid from the beverage can 100, and closes when the flow stops.

[0049] Fig. 11 shows another example design of the protective guard 1100. The example protective guard 1100 of Fig. 11 is a solid flap design, with a flexible hinge area 1102 for opening and closing the protective flap guard 1100 against the top of the beverage can 100. The solid surface of the solid flap can be used for advertising or to display a message. The example protective guard 1100 may have one or more lips 1104 for sealing the solid flap of the protective guard 1100 to edges 1106 of the opening 104 of the beverage can 100, thereby capping the opening 104 and sealing the beverage in the beverage can 100. The example protective guard 1100 can lift by the flow of fluid from the beverage can 100, and close when the flow stops. [0050] Fig. 12 shows another example design of the protective guard 1200 for beverage cans 100. This implementation of the protective guard 1200 is disk-like with a smaller opening to distribute a smaller flow of the beverage, with a barred opening to prevent ingress of insects or other foreign objects into the beverage can 100. The example disk version of the protective guard 1200 may be manufactured above or below (not shown) a tab 106 of the beverage can 100. When placed below the tab 106 of a stay-tab opening device 102, for example, the retracted protective guard 1200 does not interfere with the opening action of the tab 106 or the stay-tab opening device 102.

Example Rivet Fastening Mechanisms

[0051] There are several ways to take advantage of the rivet 108 of a beverage can 100 to secure the protective guards to the beverage cans 100.

[0052] Fig. 13 shows an example configuration for securing the protective guard 1300 to the beverage can 100 with an example rivet 108. In this implementation, the conventional manufacturing design of the rivet 108, such as the conventional rivet 108 of a stay-tab opening device 102, is not altered. Instead, this embodiment uses the conventional rivet head 1302 of the rivet 108 as a rotational hub 1302 for the protective guard, and then attaches a second rivet head or plate 1304 on top of the conventional rivet head 1302 to secure the rotating protective guard 1300. The plate 1304 may be fastened to the top of the conventional rivet head 1302 by ultrasonic welding, for example, or other means, and forms a double-headed rivet. Or, the plate 1304 may be added to the conventional rivet scheme as a modification of the conventional can manufacturing process. The protective guard 1300 can be made out of a flexible material, to bend up and over, when other parts 1306 of the tab 106 are thicker than the aluminum metal of the tab 106 proximate to the rivet 108.

[0053] Fig. 14 shows another example configuration for securing a protective guard 1400 to the beverage can 100 with an example rivet 108. In this implementation, which is similar to that shown in Fig. 13, a rounded cap 1402 is fastened to the top of the conventional rivet head 1302 (relative size of the rounded cap 1402 is exaggerated in Fig. 14 for illustrative purposes— dotted line 1406 shows another version). The rounded cap 1402 allows the protective guard 1400, which can be made of a compliant material, such as a compliant plastic or even aluminum formed or scored to be compliant, to be pressed over the top of the rounded cap 1402. When the compliant protective guard 1400 snaps into place, it is permanently attached to the beverage can 100. The rounded cap 1402 may be fastened to the top of the conventional rivet head 1302 by ultrasonic welding, for example, or other means, and also forms a double-headed rivet. Or, the rounded cap 1402 may be added to the conventional rivet scheme as a modification of the conventional can manufacturing process.

[0054] Fig. 15 shows another example configuration for securing a protective guard 1500 to the beverage can 100 with an example rivet 108. In this implementation, the protective guard 1500 has a wider hole for rotating around the conventional rivet 108, and the wider hole is accommodated by a "wheel" hub or washer 1502 with a z-shaped cross section 1504. The protective guard 1500 may ride between the tab 106 and the washer 1502. The wider hole in the protective guard 1500 and the presence of the hub or washer 1502 separating the guard 1500 from the rivet 108 may allow the protective guard 1500 to be made from certain kinds of plastics, polymers, or other materials not compatible with the usual manufacturing processes for aluminum metal in the production of aluminum beverage cans 100.

[0055] Fig. 16 shows another example configuration for securing a protective guard 1600 to the beverage can 100 with an example rivet 108. In this implementation, the protective guard 1600 is fastened to the top surface of the hub or washer 1502, also shown in Fig. 15. This embodiment gives the protective guard more height above the tab 106 of the stay-tab opening device 102, so that the tab 106 and the protective guard 1600 rotate around the rivet 108 in planes that are separated from each other by a desirable distance.

[0056] Fig. 17 shows another example configuration for securing a protective guard 1700 to the beverage can 100 with an example rivet 108. In this embodiment, the aluminum metal of the conventional rivet head 1302 is drawn further up during production to a greater height to accommodate the thickness of the protective guard 1700. The construction material for the protective guard 1700, in turn, is selected for enough flexibility to not interfere with the action of the tab 106 of the stay-tab opening device 102. [0057] Fig. 18 shows another example configuration for securing a protective guard 1800 to the beverage can 100 around an example rivet 108. In this implementation, a horseshoe-shaped holder 1802 is formed from the aluminum metal of the tab 106 of the stay-tab opening device 102, and the protective guard 1800 is secured to the horseshoe-shaped holder 1802. The horseshoe-shaped holder 1802 can rise above the top level of the rivet 108 to hold the protective guard 1800 above the level of the rivet 108. The protective guard 1800 may be made of a compliant material to bend down to maximize fit over the opening 104 of the beverage can 100, or scored with one or more pre-formed folding lines in such a way that the protective guard 1800 can be folded over the opening 104 of the beverage can 100. The horseshoe-shaped holder itself 1802 also provides an adjustable height for the attached protective guard 1800.

Example Hinged Guard Designs

[0058] Besides versions that rotate on a rivet 108 of the beverage can 100, versions of the protective guard may use a hinging mechanism to protect the opening 104 of the beverage can 100.

[0059] Fig. 19 shows an example hinge style protective guard 1900. In one version, the example protective guard 1900 is a grid that allows beverage to flow while stopping insects and other foreign object from entering the beverage can 100. The protective guard 1900 is attached to the tab 106 by anchors 1902 & 1904 that can be drawn from the aluminum metal of the tab 106, and provide hinge anchors 1902 & 1904 on either side of the tab 106 of the stay-tab opening mechanism 102. The example protective guard 1900 is formed with protrusions that form complementary pins 1906 for the anchors 1902 & 1904. The anchors 1902 & 1904 and pins 1906 form the hinge, in an example implementation. The anchors 1902 & 1904 may be formed around the pins 1906 during manufacture, or the example protective guard 1900 may be made of a compliant material that can flex to allow the pins 1906 to be inserted into the anchors 1902 & 1904.

[0060] Fig. 20 shows another example hinge style protective guard 2000. The example protective guard 2000 is a elliptical grid that allows beverage to flow while stopping insects and other foreign object from entering the beverage can 100. The protective guard 2000 is attached to the tab 106 by anchors 2002 & 2004 that can be drawn from the aluminum metal of the tab 106, and provide anchor parts 2002 & 2004 of an example hinge mechanism, on either side of the tab 106 of the stay-tab opening mechanism 102.

[0061] Fig. 21 shows another example hinge style protective guard 2100. The example protective guard 2100 is disk-like with a smaller opening 2102 than the can's opening 104 to distribute a reduced flow of the beverage, with a single bar across the opening 2102 to prevent ingress of insects or other foreign objects into the beverage can 100. The protective guard 2100 is attached to the tab 106 by anchors 2104 & 2106 that can be drawn from the aluminum metal of the tab 106, and provide a hinge mechanism that straddles the tab 106 of the stay-tab opening mechanism 102.

Example Sliding Guard Designs

[0062] An example sliding version of the protective guard 2200 can be produced as part of the beverage can 100 during manufacture. The example sliding protective guard 2200 engages the tab 106 of the stay-tab opening device 102, and slides back-and-forth on the tab 106. The sliding protective guard 2200 can advance over the opening 104 of the beverage can 100, or can retract up the tab 106 when not needed. In an implementation, the sliding protective guard 2200 is made as part of the tab 106, and the rivet 108 of the beverage may be drawn during manufacture through a drinking straw hole 2202 of the sliding protective guard 2200.

[0063] Fig. 23 shows a top view 2302 and end view 2304 of the sliding protective guard 2200. In an implementation the sliding protective guard 2200 is made from aluminum, while in another implementation the sliding protective guard 2200 can be made in part or entirely from injection molded plastic, for example. The sliding protective guard 2200 may have an under tab sliding guide or bracket 2306 that fits over the tab 106 and slides, and may have stops, such as raised bumps for example, or a detente, to keep the sliding protective guard 2200 on the tab 106. Example Method

[0064] Fig. 24 shows an example method 2400 of constructing a protected beverage can. In the flow diagram of Fig. 24, operations of the example method 2400 are shown in individual blocks.

[0065] At block 2402 a hole is sized in a rotatable protective guard for a beverage can in order to utilize a rivet head of a stay-tab opening device on the beverage can as a rotational hub. The rotatable protective guard prevents foreign objects from entering an opening of the beverage can.

[0066] At block 2404, the protective guard is placed above a tab of the stay-tab opening device of the beverage can during a manufacture of the beverage can.

[0067] At block 2406, a plate or a cap is secured to a top of the rivet head of the stay-tab opening device to hold the rotatable protective guard in a same plane as the rivet head of the stay-tab opening device of the beverage can for rotation of the rotatable protective guard around the rivet head.

[0068] In an implementation, a rounded cap is secured to the top of the rivet head of the stay-tab opening device. The rotatable protective guard is then pressed over the rounded cap and onto a shaft of the rivet of the stay-tab opening device to fasten the rotatable protective guard to the beverage can.

[0069] In the foregoing description and in the accompanying drawings, specific terminology and drawing symbols have been set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. In some instances, the terminology and symbols may imply specific details that are not required to practice those embodiments. For example, any of the specific dimensions, quantities, material types, fabrication steps and the like can be different from those described above in alternative embodiments. The term "coupled" is used herein to express a direct connection as well as a connection through one or more intervening circuits or structures. The terms "example," "embodiment," and "implementation" are used to express an example, not a preference or requirement. Also, the terms "may" and "can" are used interchangeably to denote optional (permissible) subject matter. The absence of either term should not be construed as meaning that a given feature or technique is required.

[0070] Various modifications and changes can be made to the embodiments presented herein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, features or aspects of any of the embodiments can be applied in combination with any other of the embodiments or in place of counterpart features or aspects thereof. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

[0071] While the present disclosure has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variations possible given the description. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.