Top for container

• US 6,354,458 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1997
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nini Policappelli
• Original Assignee: Nini Policappelli
• Inventors: Policappelli, Nini
• Primary Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/977,348
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 220/705, 220/703, 220/707, 220/711, 220/716, 220/717, 220/718, 220/720, 220/721, 220/669, 220/667, 220/666, 220/674, 220/670, 220/906, 222/527, 222/528, 222/529, 222/530, 222/541, 222/566, 222/570, 222/574
• US Class Current: 220/674
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/16 of curved cross-section, e.g. cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/165 Cylindrical cans
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/02 of curved cross-section thermally insulated B65D81/3813
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/08 Containers of variable capacity containers of polygonal cross-section adapted to be of variable capacity formed by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/0005
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators see also B65D5/4212, B65D33/004
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/102 Gripping means formed in the walls, e.g. roughening, cavities, projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/465 the spout being either flexible or having a flexible wall portion, whereby the spout is foldable between a dispensing and a non-dispensing position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/063 with flexible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/283 located initially inside the container, whereby the straw is revealed only upon opening the container, e.g. pop-up straws
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/906 Beverage can, i.e. beer, soda

Abstract

A container for a fluid comprises an elongated body portion having first end and second end. There is a top portion sealing the second end and having an aperture. A cover member is provided for sealing the aperture. The top portion is movable between a first position in which the container is sealed and a second position for permitting removal of the cover member. The body portion is of a flexible material which could formed of aluminum or plastic. The top is a lid including a corrugated surface extendable between a compressed position contained in a first position in relation to the body portion and second position substantially relatively further removed from the body portion. The corrugated surface includes circular formations, the formations being eccentrically formed relative to the aperture. Alternatively the corrugated surface includes spiral formations substantially centered about the aperture. The top is formed selectively of at least one of a material being a vinyl, paper, plastic, metal, or laminate material.

Claims

1. A metal can for a drinking beverage comprising:

an elongated generally cylindrical body portion having first and second ends, the body portion being a non-resilient, non-plastic metal material or metal material laminated with windows;

a bottom portion integrally formed with and sealing the first end;

a substantially planar top portion sealing the second end and having an aperture;

a cover member releasably secured to the top portion for sealing the aperture, wherein the cover member provides a closed cavity suitable for containing a beverage fluid without fluid communication therethrough and wherein the cover member is essentially flush with the top portion when in a sealing position;

the body portion having a cylindrically curved wall having cylindrical curved wall portions and having disposed thereon and embossed thereon a profile pattern of a preselected shape, height and configuration, and the profile pattern forming collectively generally essentially circumferential rings around the cylindrically curved wall, the rings being spaced apart longitudinally on the generally cylindrical body portion and being seperated by the cylindrical curved wall portions of the curved wall, the profile pattern extending generally in a pattern over the cylidrically curved wall area of the body portion from at least one of the first end or second end, the profile pattern enhancing the exterior periphery of the body portion the profile pattern extending either outwardly or inwardly relative to the cylindrically curved wall of a can without embossing;

the body portion including an outside surface, and including a printed layer of an ornamental representation on the outside surface, the ornamental representation acting to enhance the ornamental effect of the outside surface, the ornamental representation including in at least some part printed lettering, and at least some part of the ornamental representation, including printed lettering extending over the profile pattern of the can from the curved cylindrical wall of the can, over the profile pattern and returning to the curved cylindrical wall, thereby to form a generally three-dimensional effect which substantially enhances the can, and the lettering extending around the can; and

the body being formed of an aluminum thin gauge material, the material being crushable under finger pressure when the can is empty, and the body portion of the can being formed with the profile pattern by a stamping process.

2. A metal can as claimed in claim 1 wherein the profile pattern defines a waist line.

3. A metal can as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printed ornamental representation and the profile pattern are formed such that there is a relatively non-distorted shape or form of the lettering.

4. A metal can as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least two essentially circumferential rings.

5. A metal can as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least three essentially circumferential rings.