Beverage container opener and sealing device

Abstract

Abstract A combination opener and closure device for press tab type beverage containers is disclosed. The device includes a circular top plate having a downward depending peripheral flange. Integral projections extend from the interior surface of the top plate adapted to align with the weakened tab portion of the can. One embodiment of the device includes an annular seal carried on the flange interior so the device can be used as an effective closure and seal for storage purposes. The present invention relates to an opener for beverage containers and more particularly relates to a device for opening cans of the type having press tab tops. One embodiment of the present invention also serves as a closure for previously opened containers. It is common to provide containers for substances with metal tops having weakened closure areas which have to be depressed by the user. These closures are usually formed by etching or partially cutting a circular outline through the metal in several locations adjacent the periphery of the container top. Recently, beverage containers, especially those containing malt cereal beverages have adopted a form of the weakened closure design known as the pull tab container. The pull tab container has raised serious objections from conservation groups because of the tendency of the user, particularly after he has consumed a substantial quantity of the contained beverage, to randomly discard the severed pull tabs thereby blighting the park and roadside areas of the countryside. Attempts at educating and reforming these consumers, often designated as "litter bugs," have met with only limited success. More prudent consumers sometimes insert the severed tab into the container. However, this practice is unsafe as the tab can be inadvertently swallowed. Accordingly, container manufacturers and bottling companies have looked for new, improved containers which avoid the disadvantages described above. One type of container which has recently come into use to avoid the disadvantages of the pull tab containers is the press tab container. The press tab container has weakened closure portions in the top surface. The weakened closure portions can be depressed inwardly into the can, opening the container without separating the closure. Therefore, there is no part of the can to be discarded by the careless consumer. However, even this type of container has disadvantages. Some users have extreme difficulties in applying the force necessary to inwardly depress the tabs. Further the tabs often yield suddenly to pressure so that the thumb or finger is thrust into the opening, resulting in injury to the user. A number of can puncturing devices for this general type of container can be found in the prior art. Generally these types of perforating devices include a plate carrying one or more sharpened points located to correspond to the weakened closure portions in the container top. the user applies pressure to the plate to cause the sharpened points to perforate or push out the weakened portions. These prior art devices, while effective for their intended use, are not suitable for use with push tab beverage containers. The placement and configuration of the punches are not suited for this purpose and would result in undesirable foaming or fizzing of the contained beverage if used for this purpose. Therefore, it is apparent that a need exists for a convenient opener for present day push tab beverage cans. To this end the present invention provides an opening and sealing device having a generally circular body portion adapted for engagement with the palm of the user. The inner surface of the body carries a pair of tapered projections designed to align with the weakened press tab portions in the beverage can top. One of the projections is of greater length than the other so that the weakened portions are progressively opened thereby reducing the tendency of the contained liquid to fizz or foam. A circular flange provided around the body portion is adapted to engage the upper sidewall portion of the container. The material of the opener is preferably a transparent plastic so that the projections can be visually aligned with the weakened portions of the can. In another embodiment of the present invention, an annular sealing member is provided on the inside of the circular flange so that the device can be also used to seal the container for storage of the beverage.

Inventors

• 👤 Roger R. Shumway
• 👤 Donald C. Bortel

Bibliographic Details