CAN SAFE

Abstract

A sanitary cover/adhesive seal placed onto a drinking can for users to simply peel off of the can before consuming the beverage. The sanitary cover/adhesive seal's primary purpose is to protect consumers from consuming any bacteria, dirt, residue, virus (Covid-19) enzymes that could make them sick. The sanitary cover/adhesive seal would cover part of or the entire top of the can and surround parts of the wall of the can as well.

Claims

1. A sanitary beverage can seal comprising a sanitary adhesive seal; wherein the adhesive seal extends over the top of a beverage can so as to cover the top of the can.

2. The sanitary beverage can seal of claim 1 wherein the sanitary adhesive seal comprises a thin elastic material.

3. The sanitary beverage can seal of claim 2 wherein the sanitary adhesive seal further comprises an extended pull tab.

4. The sanitary beverage can seal of claim 1 wherein the sanitary adhesive seal comprises an adhesive at its lower peripheral edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawing and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the can seal of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] The present invention teaches a new and novel sanitary covering and method of covering for beverages—that may be comprised of any suitable material including but not limited to flexible thin paper, foil, elastic material, plastic material, aluminum, rubber (natural or synthetic), LDPE (low density polyethylene), silicone, grease proof waterproof paper, or recyclable paper with a wax covering. The sanitary cover/adhesive seal would cover the portion of the surface and side and extend slightly beyond, on which the user would place his or her mouth. The application of this invention to a beverage container will dramatically reduce the potential spread of “germs” and will give the consumer confidence that the beverage has not been contaminated.

[0024] The present invention preferably consists of a flexible thin paper, foil or plastic material that, once applied, is conformed to a disposable beverage container and can be used for any style of beverage container and is sealed to such beverage container by way of a food grade or other light adhesive applied to the sanitary barrier.

[0025] Removal of the sanitary barrier of the present invention from the beverage container may be done by movement in one general direction. Proper removal of the sanitary barrier does not allow any dust, debris or other matter to fall back onto the mouth area of the beverage container.

[0026] The present invention may also have an extended pull tab, which may be of varying shapes, lengths and designs, that the consumer may grip in order to peel the sanitary covering from the beverage container prior to consumption. The extended pull tab may be placed on any suitable position on the seal.

[0027] One advantage of extending the sanitary barrier beyond the drinking aperture itself is that the sanitary barrier will provide a larger sanitary area, which is important in certain circumstances, such as if the consumer licks a drop of liquid off of the top or side of the container that might otherwise drip off.

[0028] Another advantage is to provide a higher quality product (the beverage) by assuring beverage consumers that they are receiving a clean product.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the sanitary cover/adhesive seal 10 may comprise a thin sheet or membrane, such as elastic material, clear latex rubber, other plastic material, or paper and the container 15 may comprise a cylindrical container body formed of a top 20 and a sidewall 21. The adhesives in the adhesive seal may comprise gel, glue, paste, suitable sealants and adhesive materials, and biodegradable pulp fiber. The sanitary cover/adhesive seal extends over the top 20 of container 15 so as to cover the top and extends axially along the sidewall 21 of the container 15 for a predetermined distance from the top. The sanitary cover/adhesive seal, which also preferably extend circumferentially completely about the container 15, may be attached at its lower peripheral edge to the container 15 by means of an adhesive. On a conventional pop-top can, the distance below the top 20 of the can at which the membrane is attached to the sidewall may be of the order of one inch or so. This is sufficient to afford a clean sanitary mouth area at the top of the can and on the sidewall below the top for drinking.

[0030] While a specific embodiment has been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without markedly departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of protection is thus only intended to be limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.