BEVERAGE CAN PROTECTION DEVICE AND A SYSTEM THEREFOR

Abstract

A beverage can protection device includes a housing, a lid, and a mating assembly. The housing has a substantially cylindrical cavity designed to receive and removably store a beverage can therein, wherein the housing includes a non-insulating material to permit exchange of heat through the housing and cooling of a beverage can in the housing. The lid removably covers an open end of the cavity such that the housing and the lid enclose and protect a beverage can from impact damage from objects adjacent a beverage can due to shaking or jostling during transport in or on a vehicle over rough surfaces. The mating assembly detachably connects the housing and the lid.

Claims

1. A beverage can protection device comprising: a housing having a substantially cylindrical cavity configured to receive and removably store a beverage can therein, wherein said housing comprises a non-insulating material to permit exchange of heat through said housing and cooling of a beverage can in said housing; a lid removably covering an open end of said cavity such that said housing and said lid enclose and protect a beverage can from impact damage from objects adjacent a beverage can due to shaking or jostling during transport in or on a vehicle over rough surfaces; and a mating assembly detachably connecting said housing and said lid.

2. The beverage can protection device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises at least one orifice to permit viewing of a beverage can in said housing and passage of air or water to cool a beverage can in said housing.

3. The beverage can protection device of claim 2, wherein the beverage can protection device further comprises a securing member configured to detachably connect the beverage can protection device to a support structure.

4. The beverage can protection device of claim 1, wherein the beverage can protection device further comprises a securing member configured to detachably connect the beverage can protection device to a support structure.

5. The beverage can protection device of claim 3, wherein said housing comprises a base portion to support a beverage can thereon, and said securing member is disposed on an outer surface of said base portion.

6. The beverage can protection device of claim 5, wherein said housing comprises a lip portion and a side wall extending from said base portion to said lip portion, and said mating assembly comprises a first mating member disposed on an outer surface of said lip portion and a second mating member disposed on an inner surface of said lid, and said securing member of said base portion is configured to matingly engage with said second mating member of said lid to permit temporary storage of said lid when said lid is disconnected from said lip portion.

7. The beverage can protection device of claim 6, wherein: said first mating member comprises a tab and said second mating member comprises a slot and a retaining projection in said slot, wherein said tab is selectively engaged and disengaged with said retaining projection and said slot by relative rotation of said lid and said housing; and said securing member comprises a tab, wherein said tab is selectively engaged and disengaged with said retaining projection and said slot by relative rotation of said lid and said housing.

8. The beverage can protection device of claim 7, wherein: said mating assembly comprises a plurality of said first mating members and a plurality of said second mating members; and said base portion has a plurality of said securing members.

9. The beverage can protection device of claim 8, wherein said housing has a height less than a height of a beverage can such that a mouth portion of a beverage can projects out of said housing when a beverage can is in said housing.

10. The beverage can protection device of claim 9, wherein the beverage can protection device further comprises gripping projections disposed on an outer surface of said housing.

11. The beverage can protection device of claim 10, wherein said gripping projections comprise elongated ribs, and each of said elongated ribs comprises a first portion disposed on said housing and a second portion disposed on said lid.

12. A beverage can protection system comprising: a beverage can protection device comprising: a housing having a substantially cylindrical cavity configured to receive and removably store a beverage can therein; a lid removably covering an open end of said cavity such that said housing and said lid enclose and protect a beverage can from impact damage from objects adjacent a beverage can due to shaking or jostling during transport in or on a vehicle over rough surfaces; and a mating assembly detachably connecting said housing and said lid; a support structure; and a securing assembly detachably connecting the beverage can protection device to said support structure.

13. The beverage can protection system of claim 12, wherein said securing assembly comprises a first securing member disposed on the beverage can protection device and a second securing member disposed on said support structure.

14. The beverage can protection system of claim 13, wherein the system comprises a plurality of the beverage can protection devices and securing assemblies and said support structure comprises a plurality of receptacles, wherein each of the beverage can protection devices has one of said first securing members disposed on an outer surface thereof and each of said plurality of receptacles has one of said second securing members disposed on an inner surface thereof.

15. The beverage can protection system of claim 14, wherein said support structure comprises mounting projections to detachably mount said support structure to a vehicle or to support said support structure on the bottom of a portable container for transporting beverage cans.

16. The beverage can protection system of claim 14, wherein each of the beverage can protection devices has multicolored design elements on said lid to indicate at least different types of beverage cans in each of the beverage can protection devices.

17. The beverage can protection system of claim 14, wherein each of said securing assemblies comprises an adapter structure insertable between and to detachably connect said first securing member and said second securing member when its corresponding base portion is smaller in diameter than its corresponding receptacle.

18. The beverage can protection system of claim 14, wherein said housing comprises a non-insulating material to permit exchange of heat through said housing and cooling of a beverage can in said housing.

19. The beverage can protection system of claim 14, wherein said housing comprises a base portion to support a beverage can thereon, and said first securing member is disposed on an outer surface of said base portion, and wherein said housing comprises a lip portion and a side wall extending from said base portion to said lip portion, and said mating assembly comprises a first mating member disposed on an outer surface of said lip portion and a second mating member disposed on an inner surface of said lid, and said securing member of said base portion is configured to matingly engage with said second mating member of said lid to permit temporary storage of said lid when said lid is disconnected from said lip portion.

20. The beverage can protection system of claim 14, wherein said housing comprises at least one orifice to permit viewing of a beverage can in said housing and passage of air or water to cool a beverage can in said housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage can protection device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure without a lid.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a view of a portion of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a view of a support structure for use with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a view of the support structure in use with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 12 thereof, a new beverage can protection device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0025] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the beverage can protection device 10 generally comprises a housing 12, a lid 14, and a mating assembly 54 (see FIG. 5) that detachably connects the housing 12 and the lid 14. The housing 12 has a substantially cylindrical cavity 16 designed to receive and removably store a beverage can 70 therein, wherein the housing 12 includes a non-insulating material to permit exchange of heat through the housing 12 and cooling of the beverage can 70 in the housing 12. As best shown in FIG. 7, the lid 14 removably covers an open end of the cavity 16 such that the housing 12 and the lid 14 enclose and protect the beverage can 70 from impact damage from objects adjacent the beverage can 70 due to shaking or jostling during transport in or on a vehicle over rough surfaces.

[0026] The housing 12 includes at least one orifice 18 to permit viewing of the beverage can 70 in the housing 12 and passage of air or water to cool the beverage can 70 in the housing 12. The orifice 18 allows a user to see the can 70 inside the housing 12 so the user knows what beverage is inside the can 70, as well as allow for additional cooling. An example of the orifice 18 is shown in FIG. 1, wherein there are two triangular openings in a side wall 20 of the housing 12. In at least one possible embodiment, the orifices 18 may be omitted and the side wall 20 is solid.

[0027] As best shown in FIG. 8, the housing 12 has a height less than a height of the beverage can 70 such that a mouth portion of the beverage can 70 projects out of the housing 12 when the beverage can 70 is in the housing 12. This design allows the user to drink from the beverage can 70 while still in the housing 12, as mentioned above. The beverage can protection device 10 further includes gripping projections positioned on an outer surface of the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the gripping projections are elongated ribs 22, and each of the elongated ribs 22 includes a first portion 24 positioned on the housing 12 and a second portion 26 positioned on the lid 14. The elongated ribs 22 are just one example of a gripping projection and other designs, such as spirals, partial spheres, crosshatch patterns, or other patterns or shapes, could be used and are within the scope of the disclosure.

[0028] As best shown in FIG. 7, the housing 12 includes a base portion 28 and a lip portion 30 connected by the side wall 20, which extends from the base portion 28 to the lip portion 30. As best shown in FIG. 5, the base portion 28 supports the beverage can 70 thereon. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the mating assembly 54 includes a first mating member 32 positioned on an outer surface of the lip portion 30 and a second mating member 34 positioned on an inner surface of the lid 14. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the beverage can protection device 10 can have a plurality of the first mating members 32 and a corresponding plurality of the second mating members 34. For purposes of clarity, if multiple identical structures, like the plurality of first mating members 32, are shown in a figure, only one of the identical structures is marked. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the first mating member 32 is in the form of a tab 40 and the second mating member 34 includes a slot 36 and a retaining projection 38 in the slot 36, wherein the tab 40 is selectively engaged and disengaged with the retaining projection 38 and the slot 36 by relative rotation of the lid 14 and the housing 12. While a tab-and-slot connection is shown, other types of detachable connections, such as screw threads and buttons, are within the scope of the disclosure. As best seen in FIG. 5, the lid 14 also includes within the slot 36 a chamfered surface 58. The chamfered surface 58 engages with a mating chamfered surface 60 positioned on the first mating member 32. The first mating member 32 slides along the slot 36 and the chamfered surfaces 58, 60 come together via friction to further lock the lid 14 to the housing 12.

[0029] The beverage can protection device 10 further includes a securing member designed to detachably connect the beverage can protection device 10 to a support structure, which will be discussed further below. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, such as in FIG. 4, the securing member 42 is disposed on the base portion 28, though the securing member 42 could be located elsewhere on the housing 12 or even on the lid 14, depending on the support structure. The securing member 42 is not only designed to detachably connect the beverage can protection device 10 to a support structure but is also designed to matingly engage with the second mating member 34 of the lid 14. As shown in FIG. 8, this design allows a user to temporarily store the lid 14 on the base portion 28 when the lid 14 is disconnected from the lip portion 30, such as while the user is drinking from the beverage can 70 inside the housing 12. In other words, the housing 12 can have a similar design at each end thereof such that the lid 14 can be detachably connected to either end of the housing 12, namely, to the lip portion 30 to close the housing 12 and to the base portion 28 to temporarily hold the lid 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the securing member 42 is in the form of a tab 40, like the first mating member 32, which can engage with the slot 36 of the lid 14. Also, like the first mating member 32, there can be a plurality of the securing members 42 that correspond to the plurality of the first mating members 32.

[0030] As mentioned above, the securing member 42, whether on the base portion 28 or elsewhere on the housing 12, is designed to detachably connect the beverage can protection device 10 to a support structure. The support structure could be one of several different types of structures and objects, such as a mount for a vehicle or a tray insert for coolers or bags. The support structure could even be other beverage can protection devices 10, wherein the beverage can protection devices 10 are connectable to one another in pairs or in groups in order to form a stable pack of beverage can protection devices 10, much like a six-pack of cans connected by plastic rings. To be clear, a support structure is not required, as the beverage can protection devices 10 can be used individually and free of any support structure, such as loose inside a cooler or bag. The securing member 42 though allows the user to connect the beverage can protection device 10 to a support structure to keep the beverage can protection device 10 in a secure and stable position to minimize movement of the beverage can protection device 10 and thus further protect against impacts.

[0031] In that regard, FIGS. 10 and 11 show one possible embodiment of a support structure 44 for use with the beverage can protection devices 10. In FIG. 10, the beverage can protection device 10 is part of a system that includes the support structure 44 and a securing assembly detachably connecting the beverage can protection device 10 to the support structure 44. In the embodiment shown, the securing assembly includes the securing member 42 positioned on the base portion 28 of the housing 12 and another securing member 46 positioned on the support structure 44, which securing members will be referred to in the following as the first securing member 42 and the second securing member 46, respectively, for clarity. The system includes a plurality of the beverage can protection devices 10 and the securing assemblies, and the support structure 44 includes a plurality of receptacles 48. Each of the beverage can protection devices 10 has one or more of the first securing members 42 positioned on an outer surface thereof and each of the plurality of receptacles 48 has one or more of the second securing members 46 positioned on an inner surface thereof. In the example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first securing member 42 is in the form of the tab 40 and each of the second securing members 46 is in the form of the slot 36 with the retaining projection 38, much like the connection between the base portion 28 and the lid 14. The support structure 44 includes mounting projections 50 to detachably mount the support structure 44 to a vehicle or to support the support structure 44 on the bottom of a portable container for transporting the beverage cans 70. For example, the mounting projections 50 could clamp or snugly fit onto a rear portion of an ATV or jet ski to secure the support structure 44. The support structure 44 could also be inserted into a portable container, such as a cooler or bag, to provide support for the beverage can protection devices 10.

[0032] In one possible embodiment, each of the securing assemblies further includes an adapter structure 52, such as shown in FIG. 9, that is insertable between and to detachably connect the first securing member 42 and the second securing member 42 when its corresponding base portion 28 is smaller in diameter than its corresponding receptacle. For example, the receptacles 48 in the support structure 44 could all be one size, whereas the beverage can protection devices 10 could be of different sizes corresponding to different sizes of beverage cans, such 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans or skinny and regular cans. The adapter structure 52 could be used to adapt a smaller base portion 28 to a larger receptacle such that one support structure 44 with one size of receptacles 48 could securely hold beverage can protection devices 10 of different sizes. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the adapter structure 52 includes both tabs 40 and slots 36 and retaining projections 38 to permit connection between the base portion 28 and a corresponding receptacle 48. Again, while the tabs 40, slots 36, and retaining projections 38 are shown in FIG. 9 and in the other figures, other types of connecting structures, such as prongs, snaps, clasps, buttons, and other such structures, are within the scope of the disclosure.

[0033] In one possible embodiment, each of the beverage can protection devices 10 has multicolored design elements on the lid 14 to indicate at least different types of beverage cans in each of the beverage can protection devices 10. These could assist the user in knowing what type or size of beverage is in each of the beverage can protection devices 10.

[0034] FIG. 12 shows an alternative design of the beverage can protection device 10 wherein there are multiple orifices 18 in the side wall 20 of the housing 12. In addition, there are interior guide structures 56 that support the sides of a beverage can. The spaces in between the guide structures 56 function as flow channels to allow for cooling air or water to travel and contact a substantial portion of the surface of a beverage can inside the beverage can protection device 10. In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the side wall 20 is larger than the outer diameter of a beverage can, and the interior guide structures 56 project to make up that difference and securely hold the beverage can. In one possible embodiment, the interior guide structures 56 are omitted and more orifices 18 are included across the side wall 20.

[0035] Generally speaking, the beverage can protection device 10 is used to protect the beverage can 70 from impact damage when transported in or on a vehicle over rough surfaces. For example, a user may want to ride an ATV outdoors over rough terrain. The user may also want to transport beverage cans in a cooler to be kept cold for consumption later. Since the ride on an ATV over rough terrain can be very bumpy and jarring, the beverage cans inside the cooler could be impacted by items inside the cooler, such as ice or other cans, and thereby could become dented and possibly rupture. To prevent this impact damage, the user places each beverage can in the beverage can protection device 10. The housing 12 protects the cans from impact damage. In addition, since the housing 12 includes non-insulating material, cold air, water, and ice inside the cooler is also allowed to cool the beverage can via heat transfer. The beverage can protection devices 10 could also be connected to a support structure, such as shown in FIG. 11.

[0036] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0037] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.