APPARATUS FOR SECURING A BEVERAGE CAN TO A CONTAINER

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the field of human necessities. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for securing beverage cans to containers and other objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nicotine pouches, chewing tobacco and chewing tobacco pouches find wide use among consumers. Popular among nicotine pouches are Zyn™ nicotine pouches. Nicotine pouches, chewing tobacco and chewing tobacco pouches are provided in a short, cylindrical container that is typically carried in the pocket of a user. Nicotine pouches, chewing tobacco and chewing tobacco pouches are used by placement in the mouth permitting the nicotine in the product to be administered through the mucosa of the user's mouth. When consuming a beverage, a user often removes and discards the tobacco or pouch to facilitate swallowing the beverage and/or avoiding the comingling of the flavor of the beverage with the flavor of the tobacco or pouch. After the beverage is consumed, the user may desire to replace the tobacco or pouch.

What is needed in the art therefore is an apparatus and method for securing a beverage can to a source of nicotine pouches, chewing tobacco and chewing tobacco pouches so these products can be conveniently replaced after the beverage is consumed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an apparatus and method for securing a beverage can to a source of nicotine pouches, chewing tobacco and chewing tobacco pouches so that these products are conveniently available to a user. The apparatus of the invention also serves as a coaster to prevent the beverage container from resting on a surface that might otherwise be scratched or tarnished by the beverage can resting upon the surface, due to sliding or condensation, for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive apparatus of having removal tabs.

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive apparatus having a release opening.

FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of a third embodiment of the inventive apparatus of having removal tabs.

FIG. 4 shows a top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the inventive apparatus having a release opening.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the inventive apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive apparatus.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive apparatus.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the inventive apparatus releasably securing a beverage can to a container.

FIG. 9 is a magnified view of the interface between the inventive apparatus as it is releasably secured to a beverage can and a container.

The figures referred to above are not necessarily drawn to scale and should be understood to present a representation of the invention, illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the apparatus depicted in the drawings may have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components and features shown in various alternative embodiments. The apparatus, as disclosed herein, can have configurations and components determined, in part, by the intended application and environment in which it is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides and apparatus and method for releasably securing beverage cans to containers. The inventive apparatus can feature a generally disk-shaped object having a top surface with projections that interface with the bottom of a beverage can, and a bottom surface that interfaces with the top or bottom of a container. The inventive apparatus can be used to releasably secure a beverage can to a container holding nicotine pouches, chewing tobacco, or chewing tobacco pouches, for example. In embodiments where the apparatus is adapted to be releasably secured to the top of a container, the apparatus can be used to replace the lid of the container thereby providing a container and lid that is adapted to be releasably secured to the bottom of a beverage can. While the apparatus depicted herein is shown having a circular profile, it will be understood that the apparatus can be practiced with other shapes without departing from the spirit of the invention. Details of embodiments of the inventive apparatus are shown in the attached figures and following written description.

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the inventive apparatus having planar body 101. Planar body 101 has rim portion 102 about the circumference of planar body 101. Rim portion 102 terminates in rim surface 103. In some embodiments, rim surface 103 includes rim protrusion 104 extending from rim surface 103. Planar body 101 includes a plurality of projections 105. While FIGS. 1 and 2 show planar body 101 having three projections 105, it will be appreciated that the inventive apparatus can have any number of projections suitable for releasably securing the inventive apparatus to the bottom of a beverage can as disclosed herein. For example, FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment wherein planar body 101 includes four protections 105. Planar body 101 can include openings 106 adjacent to one or more of projections 105. Opening 106 can facilitate manufacture of the inventive apparatus by injecting molding by making it easier to eject the apparatus from an injection mold during the manufacturing process. Openings 106 traverse planar body 101.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the apparatus can include one or more release tabs 107 on rim portion 102. In other embodiments, rim portion 102 includes one or more of release openings 108. In yet other embodiments, rim portion 102 incudes a combination of one or more release tabs 107 and one or more release openings 108. Release tabs 107 and release openings 108 function to permit a user to pry the inventive apparatus from a beverage can when the inventive apparatus is releasably secured to the bottom of the beverage can by projections 105.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the inventive apparatus depicted in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows projections 105 can assume an L-shape configuration formed from upright portion 109 and extension 110. Upright portion 109 can have longitudinal axis y that is perpendicular to horizontal axis x of planar body 101. Extension 110 can have horizontal axis x′ that is substantially colinear with horizontal axis x of planar body 101. In other embodiments, upright portion 109 can have longitudinal axis y that is substantially perpendicular to horizontal axis x of planar body 101, and extension 110 can have horizontal axis x′ that is substantially colinear with horizontal axis x of planar body 101. As used herein, the term “substantially” means the axes of upright portion 109 and extension 110 can vary by up to 10 degrees (plus or minus) from their relationship to horizontal axis x of planar body 101. For example, vertical axis y of upright portion 109 and horizontal axis x of planar body 101 can form an angle that is between 80 degrees and 100 degrees. Similarly, horizontal axis x′ of extension 110 and horizontal axis x of planar body 101 can form an angle that is between 170 and degrees and 190 degrees. It will be understood that the degrees referenced herein refer to the degrees of the open angle, formed by the axes, which face outward from a center of the apparatus.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus includes a pair of release tabs 107 on rim portion 102. FIG. 5 further shows the detail of the periphery of rim portion 102, including rim surface 103 and rim protrusion 104. As disclosed herein, rim surface 103 and rim protrusion 104 are adapted to mate with the walls of a container opening to releasably secure the apparatus to a container. Planar body 101 can include a depression 111 on its bottom surface which is surrounded by annular ridge 112.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment for the bottom of planar body 101. The bottom of this embodiment includes annular sidewall 113 having two or more of sidewall protrusions 114. Sidewall protrusions 114 are adapted to mate with a rim protrusion on the outside wall of a container to releasably secure the apparatus to a container by interference fit. The bottom of this embodiment can further include two or more of planar projections 115. Planar projections 115 are curved planar bodies that connect to the bottom of planar body 101 on one of their longitudinal edges. A gap is formed between annular sidewall 113 and planar projections 115 such that annular sidewall 113 and planar projections 115 serve as a guide for aligning the bottom of planar body 101 with a container wherein the walls of the container are inserted into the gap such that protrusions on the outside rim of the container opening and sidewall protrusions 114 are permitted to mate with one another in an interference fit to releasably secure the apparatus to the container. It will be understood that the container that planar body101 is adapted to mate with will have a similar profile as planar body 101 so as to permit planar body 101 and the container opening to nest in a releasably secured state by an interference fit.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of the inventive apparatus releasably secured to beverage can 116 and container 117. Beverage can 116 and container 117 can have a circular cross section. Beverage can 116 can be, for example, a beer can, energy drink can, soda can, or sparking water can. Container 117 can be a container holding nicotine pouches (e.g., Zyn™ nicotine pouches), chewing tobacco, or chewing tobacco pouches, for example. The apparatus is depicted as releasably secured to the bottom of beverage can 116 by projections 105 interfacing with beverage can sidewall 118. The apparatus can be releasably secured to beverage can sidewall 118 by an interference fit such that the dimensions of the bottom of beverage can 116 and projections 105 are geometrically paired to provide tension between the contact beverage can sidewall 118 and projections 105. The inventive apparatus can be adapted to releasably connect to beverage can 116 wherein the bottom of beverage can 116 is domed as depicted in FIG. 8.

In some embodiments, the inventive apparatus is adapted to interface with a beverage can wherein can sidewall 118 on the bottom of container 116 has an annular protrusion, or ridge, that extends inwards to towards the center of the depression in the bottom of can 116. Thus, a groove can be formed above the annular protrusion which surrounds the inside of beverage can sidewall above the annular protrusion. In such embodiments, projections 105 are adapted to click into the bottom of beverage can 116 wherein extensions 110 of projections 105 contact the annular protrusion and projections 105 deform as the apparatus is pressed into the bottom of beverage can 116 and projections 105 return to their natural state when extensions 110 clear the annular protrusion such that extensions 110 rest upon the upper surface of the annular protrusion thereby releasably securing the apparatus to the bottom of beverage can 116.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the apparatus releasably secured to the bottom of container 117, wherein container 117 has container sidewall 119 forming an external sidewall of container 117. Container void 120 is formed within container 117 by internal sidewall 121. Gap 122 forms a space between container sidewall 119 and internal sidewall 121. The bottom of container 117 has planar surface 123 which is necked down from internal sidewall 121 on the bottom of container 117. The apparatus is releasably secured to container 117 by annular ridge 112 occupying the gap formed between container sidewall 119 and planar surface 123 wherein rim protrusion 104 is mated against container protrusion 124 on sidewall 119 under an interference fit. Simultaneously, planar surface 123 on the bottom of container 117 occupies depression 111 on the bottom of planar body 101. Container protrusion 124 can be present as a plurality of linearly arranged protrusions on the inside surface of container sidewall 119, or be present as an annularly arranged protrusion, or ridge, arranged around the entire inside surface of sidewall 119.

Releasably securing the apparatus to the bottom of container 117 can be practiced by exposing the bottom of container 117, aligning annular ridge 112 with the gap between planar surface 123 and sidewall 119, and pressing the apparatus against container 117 such that sidewall 119 deforms to permit annular ridge 112 to be inserted into the gap between planar surface 123 and sidewall 119 such that sidewall 119 returns to its natural state when rim protrusion 104 clears container protrusion 124 such that rim protrusion 104 is nested against container protrusion 124 thereby maintaining the apparatus in a releasably secured state under an interference fit.

The invention provides a method for securing a beverage can to container. The method can be practiced by providing an apparatus that is adapted to be releasably secured to the bottom of a beverage can, providing a container, releasably securing the apparatus to the beverage can, and releasably securing the apparatus to the container. The apparatus can be the inventive apparatus as disclosed herein. In alternate embodiments, the method can be practiced with an apparatus comprising a pair of sleeves having a first sleeve that is adapted to receive the bottom of a beverage can therein, and a second sleeve adapted to receive a container, wherein the first and second sleeves are sized to be releasably secured to the beverage can and the container under an interference fit.

In other embodiments, the invention provides a method for releasably securing a beverage can to any surface upon which a user wants to place a beverage for convenient access. Such surfaces can be, without limitation, the surface of an ice chest, table, boat deck, boat dock, truck tailgate, or automobile dash or console. Such methods can be practiced using the inventive apparatus disclosed herein, wherein the bottom of planar body 101 comprises any connecting means suitable for securing the inventive apparatus to the surface. Suitable connecting means include, without limitation, adhesives, hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro™), magnets, docking bodies that are fixed to the surface and are adapted to mate with the bottom of the inventive apparatus, or combinations thereof.