U.S. patent application number 14/606016 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-28 for sleeve device for beverage containers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Eloy Gonzalez, II. Invention is credited to Eloy Gonzalez, II.
Application Number | 20160213181 14/606016 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56433076 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160213181 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gonzalez, II; Eloy |
July 28, 2016 |
SLEEVE DEVICE FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
Abstract
The present invention is a sleeve device for beverage
containers. It can be transparent or decorative and made of any
suitable material such as plastic or metal. The current prototypes
are made of transparent PET plastic. The sleeve is applied from the
top of the beverage can. It adheres snugly and stably to the
surface of the beverage can and can easily be applied and removed
as desired. It has an opening at each end and is essentially
cylindrical in shape while fitting the contours of the beverage
can. The top end is flush with the top of the beverage can. The
bottom end is flush right at or slightly below the bottom of the
label of the beverage can. Although variable, the wall thickness is
generally no more than 0.5 mm. This construction is essential to
ensure that the general appearance of the beverage can is
maintained. The sleeve can serve multiple functions. If the correct
insulating material is used in the sleeve's construction, it can
keep itself and its contents cool. If artwork is applied into,
onto, or under the sleeve, it can make the beverage can appear as
an art piece or made as if from another beverage can label.
Research in this area is ongoing. For now, the sleeve has the
proven quality of protecting, duplicating, resembling, enhancing
and/or concealing the exterior surface of beverage-cans.
Inventors: |
Gonzalez, II; Eloy;
(McAllen, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gonzalez, II; Eloy |
McAllen |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56433076 |
Appl. No.: |
14/606016 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 2023/0291 20130101;
B65D 23/0842 20130101; B65D 25/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47G 23/02 20060101
A47G023/02 |
Claims
1. A sleeve device, comprising: a. A cylindrical body, open at
either end, having the contours of a beverage can, with the top end
flush with the top of the beverage can, and the bottom end flush
right at or slightly below the bottom of the beverage can label.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent
application Ser. No. 61930969, filed 2014 Jan. 24 by the present
inventor.
[0002] Introduction
[0003] I, Eloy Gonzalez II, have invented, privately and not under
government contract, a sleeve device which can be constructed in
many different ways and from many different materials, is simple in
design, hollow in the center, open from either end, and can
accommodate, by entirely covering and completely surrounding, in a
circumferential manner, a beverage container, such as, but not
limited to, any size of beverage can or bottle, either open or
closed, without impeding in any way the normal function and use of
said beverage container and/or the manner in which the beverage
contained within it is consumed. It can be the color of the
material it is made from, whether transparent or opaque, or be
made, for example, with any color or hue imaginable, or with no
color at all, and can optionally have any kind of image grafted
onto its exterior or interior surface, or infused into the very
material it is constructed from. The device should maintain the
actual shape and general dimensions of the beverage container it
envelops as closely as possible to minimally or maximally create
the appearance that there is no sleeve device over said beverage
container. Said sleeve device should also maintain complete
functionality, stability, and ease of removal during use. The top
of the sleeve device should be flush with the top of the beverage
container and the bottom should be right at or slightly below the
bottom edge of the beverage can label. This is so that the sleeve
device can maintain the realistic appearance of a genuine beverage
can. Preference in this patent application is given to 12 and 16
ounce beverage cans, but is not limited to them.
[0004] References to "the sleeve device" and "the present
invention" all refer to the same thing; namely, the invention
described in this patent application. Millimeter is abbreviated as
"mm".
[0005] The overall structural design of the optional labeling on
the sleeve device need not be confined to those products that are
in the current general marketplace (such as, for example, listed in
alphabetical order, "BIG RED", "COKE", "DR. PEPPER", "MOUNTAIN
DEW", "PEPSI" or "7-UP") and can be any design, past, present, or
future, that is reminiscent of, completely fabricated from, or
inspired by, a commercial or non-commercial beverage container,
thus providing the option of making the actual and optional brand
name and label on the sleeve device fictional in nature and without
necessarily having origin in the marketplace.
[0006] The optional labeling or printed design could be purely
aesthetic in nature and solely for the purpose of providing a more
eye-pleasing, artistic, and/or tasteful outward appearance to the
sleeve device. If so desired, the sleeve device could be
transparent, with the material it is constructed from, bearing any
color or hue imaginable. Or, the sleeve device could be minimally
or maximally reflective, have the capacity to glow through
application of any suitable luminescence or bioluminescence
technology, be one solid color, a multitude of colors, or without
any color at all, and/or be minimally or maximally transparent in
order to provide the operator(s) of said sleeve device the option
of personally applying on, under, and/or into its surface whatever
color, words, designs, and/or drawings are preferred by said
operator(s). If technology were to become sufficiently advanced in
the future, means for moving images could also be grafted onto
and/or into the exterior and/or interior surface of the material of
said sleeve device.
[0007] The material used in the construction of the sleeve device
could be one that uses some past, present, or future cloaking
technology which could both possess and impart a minimal or maximal
invisibility quality to the sleeve device that would further aide
it to modify the external appearance of beverage containers.
[0008] The sleeve device could be made from a flexible material (of
which many exist, such as spandex, rubber, or latex, etc., etc.)
or, it can be constructed out of one or more rigid and durable
substances (such as aluminum or an alloy or metal composite) and/or
plastic (such as PET [polyethylene terephthalate], teflon,
polyethylene, PLA [polylactic acid], or ABS [acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene]) or a plastic hybrid material, and/or some other
suitable future material that currently does not exist but can be
used advantageously to construct the present invention.
[0009] Said optional aforementioned beverage container label and/or
printed design may appear grafted to the exterior of the sleeve
device (as is expected to be consistent with the design of most, if
not all, beverage containers in current use) so that when said
sleeve device is slid over said beverage container, there will be
provided, at least approximate, at most exact, the appearance of
said commercial beverage container having virtually the same
dimensions, color, texture, likeness, reflective and/or matte or
glossy surface, but optionally bearing an entirely different
design, label, and identity from that of said commercial beverage
container underneath.
[0010] In short, said sleeve device has, for example, the means to:
minimally or maximally mimic, duplicate, resemble, enhance and/or
conceal the exterior design of any one of several beverage
containers, most preferably beverage-cans (whether or not they are
full or empty); act as a recycling device for said commercial
beverage containers; assist in beverage taste-testing trials;
function as a toy, novelty item, or item of individual and/or group
expression, where colors, words, designs, and/or drawings can be
applied on, under, and/or into the surface of said sleeve device by
any means and by any one of many individual(s) and/or group(s); act
as an insulating and/or protective device--a "Koozie" or
"Coozie"--for the purpose of maintaining the high or low
temperatures of beverage containers and their respective beverages;
act as a concealment device by using, for example, a camouflage
print in lieu of a beverage label; act as a transparent and
colorless protective shield against damage to the surface of the
beverage container; enhance the appearance of beverage containers
by using any artistic print of any design to make a beverage
container look like an art piece; provide all the services herein
described in this patent application ideally without impeding the
normal function of the beverage container being minimally or
maximally mimicked, duplicated, resembled, enhanced and/or
concealed by said sleeve device; and act as a promotional device
for any one or many private or public residential and/or business
entities that would be interested in unique versions of the sleeve
device where a custom-made label is incorporated into its
design.
BACKGROUND
[0011] The "Koozie" has been the traditional device used to provide
insulation for keeping beverage containers cold and to prevent
unwanted exposure by the operators of the Koozie to the cold
surface of the beverage container. There have been many variations
of this invention over the years, with just as many different
spellings of the name Koozie. Virtually all Koozies are constructed
from fabric or foam, and slide up from the bottom of the beverage
container, such as a beer bottle or can, to cover the entirety of
said beverage container, except for the roughly top 15 mm. Said
Koozies come in a variety of colors and can be printed on. However,
compared to the present invention, they are inferior in a number of
ways. The thickness of Koozies makes them aesthetically unappealing
and because they are constructed of fabric or foam, the print on
them usually is not very detailed and generally limited to only a
few colors. Because they slide up from the bottom of beverage
containers, they do not lend to a natural appearance, and seem
attached to the beverage container, as opposed to part of it.
Furthermore, the present invention has more of a slim and compact
design, and is applied and removed from the top of the beverage can
and not from the bottom.
[0012] Insulated Beverage Cozy U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,015 A
https://www.google.com/patents/US4293015?dq=insulated+beverage+cozy.&hl=e-
n&sa=X &ei=xu7GVMbYN5KmyASngoH4Ag&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA
[0013] Similar but quite different technology to the sleeve device
exists in the marketplace and is called "Hide A Beer Can Soda
Cover". It has obvious limitations in that each item is constructed
from an actual aluminum soda can, such as, for example, COKE and
SPRITE. The top and bottom rims are cut off to allow use of the
area of the can with the label. A slit found on one side of the can
allows for a widening of the entire construct, since such width is
necessary for this device to slip over and away from a beverage
can. It is connected together by tape which typically has a similar
color as that of the soda can, which in the case of COKE is red and
in the case of SPRITE is green. Although it has the benefit of
having an authentic and realistic soda can label, it is limited to
that label, and does not seem to have any other use apart from
concealment. Furthermore, it does not allow for much or any
stability of the can underneath. Upon actual use of this device,
the problem of the beverage can slipping and falling out from below
is very real. Also, the tape on one side reduces significantly its
overall realistic appearance, which is to make a beer can look like
a genuine soda can.
[0014]
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6wmcr6h4VIqgrd2xol_500.jpg
[0015] Another popular device, known by several names such as "Hide
Your Beer Cover" or "Canouflage Beer Wraps", consists of
manufactured plastic wraps that have imprinted on them similar but
different designs of commercial soda can labels. These labels are
wrapped around beer cans to camouflage their appearance so that
said beer cans may look like genuine soda cans. Some of these
devices have the disadvantage of leaving the upper top half of the
beer can uncovered, making the color of the label and the upper
portion of the beer can underneath, mismatched. Other devices are
vertically long enough to cover the upper portion of beer cans, but
because they do not curve along the contours of the can, the
concealment of the beer can underneath appears unrealistic and
crude and the device, as presented, appears only suited to the
purpose of concealment.
[0016]
http://www.thegreenhead.com/imgs/xl/beer-can-wraps-xl.ing
[0017] Another device, also called "Hide-A-Beer", functions to
conceal the outward appearance of beer cans. It is flexible and
made of Lycra, and has, approximately, the top 5 millimeters
exposed to allow the user access to the lip of the beer can.
Because the device is made of fabric, it does not provide the same
texture as a real beverage can. Furthermore, the device is limited
by a soda can label design and appears exclusively suited to the
purpose of concealment and possibly as a Koozie. It is also more
difficult to apply and remove than the present invention.
[0018]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hide-A-Beer-Can-Soda-Sleeve-Wrap-Camo-Koozi-
e-Disguise-Golf-Pool-Beach-Sports -/331103744716?pt=LH
DefaultDomain 0&hash=item4d175232cc
[0019] Advantages
[0020] The sleeve device does not suffer from the limitations of
the above mentioned devices. Its scale and dimensions are intended
to be as close as possible to that of a genuine beverage can while
still maintaining its advantages, functionality, stability, and
ease of removal during use. And unlike the aforementioned devices,
the sleeve device has many applications beyond insulation and
simple concealment.
[0021] Examples of Applications of the Present Invention:
[0022] 1.) Eve's group of friends all prefer to drink COCA-COLA at
lunchtime. But Eve prefers PEPSI. Eve can use the sleeve device,
bearing a COCA-COLA emblem and/or label as a way to minimally or
maximally mimic, duplicate, resemble, enhance and/or conceal her
PEPSI can, and make her friends think she is, in fact, drinking
COCA-COLA, thus rendering her PEPSI can incognito.
[0023] 2.) Tom is at his daughter's birthday party. He likes to
drink beer, but his wife, Betty, insists that he cannot for moral
reasons, leaving Tom with the single and only option of drinking
DR. PEPPER. By using the sleeve device with an optional DR. PEPPER
emblem and/or label pasted to its side, Tom can drink his beer
freely without fear of persecution from his wife.
[0024] 3.) Jim owns a small local art house where he sells
paintings, tea, and a few alcoholic beverages, particularly beer of
an exotic kind. He is also an artist and likes the idea of his work
being advertised on many of the products he sells in his store. Jim
orders customized art versions of the sleeve device, which emblazon
designs that he personally created, to promote his business and to
expose his clients and customers to more of his work.
[0025] 4.) A popular soft drink company is conducting a taste-test
to determine if consumers prefer its product over the competition.
Using the present inventor's sleeve device said soft drink company
can further make the identification of the beverages being tested
more difficult and challenging.
[0026] 5.) A popular soft drink company is interested in making its
printing, labeling, and recycling process more efficient and
beneficial. By printing its logo on, under, or into the sleeve
device instead of directly onto the surface of said soft drink
company's beverage container product, said soft drink company will
have the necessary means to recycle not only the husk or core of
the beverage container it uses but also the sleeve device itself,
which could be freely distributed and/or used per the utility
described in this patent application.
[0027] 6.) A small-budgeted artist would like to create two
personalized versions of the sleeve device to give away as
Christmas gifts. By purchasing two completely blank and transparent
versions of it, she can apply her own color and inscription to
create two unique and original works of art (that can also be
utilized per the specifications detailed in this patent
application).
[0028] 7.) A popular soft drink company wants to create special
variations of their logo for the holiday season without changing
their normal manufacturing and/or printing process. They use
custom-made versions of the sleeve device as promotional devices
and novelty items.
[0029] 8.) Rick is in the military and fighting a war abroad. He
needs to be able to remain cloaked from the enemy. To aid in this,
he has all of his soda cans covered with camouflage-printed
versions of the sleeve device.
[0030] 9.) Sally wants to use a transparent sleeve device without
optional printing to provide protection for the many and varied
soda cans she has in her collection. In this way, if they are
dropped accidentally, they will not be scratched.
[0031] 10.) Mike wants to use the sleeve device as a "Koozie" to
keep his beer cold. He prefers the sleeve device for its slim and
compact design, which makes it easier and comfortable to grasp for
extended periods of time.
DRAWINGS
[0032] Figures
[0033] The present inventor suggests several examples of how the
sleeve device could be constructed via several diagrams included
with this patent application.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a detailed view of the sleeve device, transparent
with no painting whatsoever; another has an optional soda can
label; and yet another has an optional artistic print.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the sleeve device having an
optional soda can label, a beer beverage can, with an indication of
the area covered by the sleeve device, approximately 115 mm.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of one embodiment of the sleeve
device from the frontside or backside. The diameter at the top is
.about.55-56 mm. The diameter at the bottom is .about.65-68.5 mm.
The complete vertical length of the sleeve device is 115 mm;
particularly, 5 mm for 1st section, 10 mm for 2nd section, and 100
mm for 3rd section. These dimensions are possibly temporary and
subject to change upon the discovery of a better more advanced
design acquired through further research.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the sleeve device.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a top partial view of the sleeve device.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a top elevation view of the sleeve device.
[0040] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the sleeve device.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a front view of the sleeve device.
[0042] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the sleeve
device.
[0043] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the sleeve
device.
[0044] FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the sleeve
device.
[0045] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the sleeve device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Although the present inventor does not have the means to
prove the physics or explain the exact modus operandi of the sleeve
device, his view is that it functions as well as it does because of
its minimally spaced interior, overall being no more than, and to
varying degrees, a few mm away from the surface of the beverage
can. This makes the application and removal of said sleeve device
from beverage cans a stable, easy and relatively effortless
process.
[0047] More specifically, the invention functions as well as it
does because of its snug tight-fitting top-most half, which
completely extends downward from the rim of the beverage can about
5-15 mm. This area of the sleeve device extends away from the
surface of the beverage can by about roughly 1 mm or less.
Furthermore, when in use, the sleeve device appears to expand in
this area to snugly grasp the top lip of the beverage can. This may
be one reason why the beverage can does not slip and fall out from
underneath the sleeve device while in use: it is tight enough to
hold the beverage can in place but loose enough to easily cause the
beverage can, when desired by the operator, to pop out.
[0048] Conversely, the central bottom-half of the sleeve device is
unlike the upper top 5-15 mm section in that it is minimally spaced
apart, roughly, more or less, by 2 mm, from the beverage can.
[0049] Part of the bottom of the sleeve device, like the top
roughly 15 mm, could also be spaced apart by 1 mm or less from the
surface of the beverage can, to add more support to allow the
sleeve device when in use to remain stable and to easily slide on
and off. Vertically, the preferred range of this spacing would be
about 1-5 mm from the bottom of the sleeve device.
[0050] These measurements represent the current design of the
invention but could be modified for future improvements of the
sleeve device and are only given as examples of the present
inventor's current research. The issue over "more or less" deals
with variations on the mm scale provided by the 3D printer used to
construct the present invention. There are margins of errors to be
considered.
[0051] Furthermore, the skin thickness of the sleeve device is
preferably less than 1 mm, at or around, but not limited to, 0.5
mm. Depending on properties, particularly the flexibility and
robust nature, of the material used in the construction of the
sleeve device, the wall thickness could be, and may even be
preferred to be, less than 0.5 mm.
[0052] The length of the sleeve device from top to bottom is 115
mm. From the top down, the 1.sup.st section amounts to 5 mm. The
2.sup.nd section amounts to 15 mm. And the third central section,
which is the main body of the sleeve device, amounts to 100 mm. It
should be repeated that these dimensions are possibly temporary and
subject to change upon the discovery of a better more advanced
design acquired through further research.
[0053] If the present invention is for use as an insulation device,
a Koozie, then it can be as thick as necessarily practical to
function in such a capacity. Or, the invention could act as a
protective layer over another sleeve device that is slightly
smaller than itself.
[0054] It is important to note that the uniqueness of the sleeve
device when compared to traditional Koozies is that it is applied
and removed from the top of the beverage can and not from the
bottom.
[0055] Through testing of the design, the present inventor has
determined that the sleeve device can easily be applied and removed
from a full or empty beverage can. It should be noted that when the
central bottom area of the sleeve device is too tight, it becomes
more difficult to remove it from said beverage can (very
difficult). Conversely, if the first top 5 and 10 mm (total of 15
mm), of the sleeve device are too loose, then it becomes difficult
for the sleeve device to stably adhere to the exterior of said
beverage can causing it to slip out from underneath.
[0056] Another theoretical explanation for the efficiency of the
sleeve device is that, as illustrated in FIG. 12, only the 1.sup.st
Section accounts for the stability of the sleeve device during use
(due to its snug design) and the 2.sup.nd and 3.sup.rd Sections
facilitate the sleeve device's ease of application and removal from
said beverage can (from which the 2.sup.nd and 3.sup.rd Sections
are minimally spaced away). This of course allows for one or more
areas other than the first top 5-15 mm to serve as the snug-fitting
section of the invention. So for the present invention to function,
there may be other and better ways to design it, still within the
scope and spirit of this patent application, but which would allow
it to have more stability and ease of application and removal than
has been discovered by the present inventor. More research into
this area is ongoing. However, such research does not depart from
the basic view that the invention functions as described because
the majority of its interior design is spaced away by roughly 2 mm
from the surface of the beverage can, and that the rest has a snug
fitting spaced away by roughly 1 mm.
[0057] The utilitarian design of the sleeve device appears to be
essential to its proper functioning and ability to serve in the
many ways described in this patent application. However, this is
because the various plastic materials that have so far been used
only work under these conditions. If a future material is designed
that can allow for complete maximal snugness of the sleeve device
(that is to say, with no, or practically no, spacing between the
interior of said sleeve device and the exterior or said beverage
can) while at the same time permit easy application and removal of
said sleeve device from said beverage can, then that design would
be preferred.
[0058] The sleeve device is preferably designed for 12 and 16 ounce
soda and beer cans. However, different versions of the sleeve
device could be constructed to accommodate beer bottles and/or
beverage cans, some of which are larger than 12 ounces. Some
examples of said larger beverage containers come in 16, 24 and 32
ounces and carry, for example, beer, soda, water, flavored water,
and energy drinks products. The same approximate standard of
construction would apply to these sizes and/or designs as well: The
top roughly 5-15 mm should be snug (more or less 1 mm spaced away
from the beverage can) while the lower bottom should be slightly
loose fitting (about roughly 2 mm spaced away from the beverage
can). Future research will determine the exact dimensions but the
above description should provide a useable product. In this way, no
matter how large or small, or how different in design the beverage
can or bottle may be, an approximate variation of the present
invention can be constructed for those items as well. It is
expected that new beverage can volumes and designs will be made in
the future and the scope and intent of this patent application, if
at all possible, will cover them all.
[0059] The sleeve device could bear an optional authentic-looking
label that, if so desired, would, in terms of appearance, be
visible on the surface of the sleeve device to minimally or
maximally mimic, duplicate, resemble, enhance and/or conceal the
label printed on the surface of a typical beer or soda beverage
can. If so desired, the printing could be designed onto the
interior of the sleeve device so that the transparent protective
sheen of the plastic covering the desired emblem and/or label could
be used to advantage. Or a combination of any one of numerous ways
of incorporating the emblem and/or label into the design of the
sleeve device could be used, the technologies of which are likely
numerous and varied. For example, one or more shrink sleeve labels
could be applied to the surface of the invention for labeling,
advertising, artistic, and any other purposes described in this
patent application.
[0060] Per the experience of the present inventor, the sleeve
device is preferred to be constructed out of a durable, pliable,
inexpensive, light, thermally insulating and transparent plastic,
such as PET and PLA. This will allow flexibility in modifying the
surface of said plastic to suit the wishes of the operator of the
invention and/or to minimally or maximally mimic, duplicate,
resemble, enhance and/or conceal the appearance of the beverage
container underneath. This latter purpose, if so desired, can and
should be easily accomplished using such printing tools of the
industry fundamental to the art. Some examples of printing
technology include 3D, decals, hydrographics and shrink sleeve
labels. During the manufacture of the sleeve device, the desired
emblem and/or label could be embedded onto, under and/or into the
plastic itself thus obviating the need for painting and/or printing
on the surface of it.
[0061] Current Best Mode of Invention
[0062] The currently most preferred (but not limiting) best mode of
the sleeve device is one generally designed in the manner described
in this patent application, constructed of transparent PET plastic,
surrounded by a shrink sleeve label carrying printed words and
images. Said shrink sleeve label is cut to the dimensions of the
sleeve device, with its very top 1 or 2 mm also cut in order to
expose through the PET plastic of the sleeve device the aluminum
lip of the beverage container underneath.
[0063] Novel but Optional Modifications to Present Invention
[0064] Paint could be applied to the surface of the invention, with
the sleeve device being made of a transparent material such as
clear PET or PLA plastic. The top uppermost section could then
remain unpainted in order to preserve the authentic appearance of
the metal silvery lip that is common to virtually all beverage
cans. Shrinks sleeve labels could be applied in similar manner, and
then the top area covering the lip of the beverage can could be cut
off with a utility knife or razor in order to expose the aluminum
lip of the beverage can, which will be observable though the
transparent PET plastic used in the construction of the sleeve
device.
[0065] The length of the top upper lip of the sleeve device could
be shortened so that the end of it meets the bottom most part of
the metal silvery lip. While this may aid in the operator's
consumption of the beverage and may allow for a more realistic
beverage can appearance to the sleeve device, in the experience of
the present inventor, this design change makes it difficult to
remove the sleeve device from the beverage can, and so is not
preferred.
[0066] A lip resembling the metal lip of a beverage could be
painted on to allow for a more realistic beverage can appearance of
the sleeve device.
[0067] A lip made of the same material as the sleeve device and
resembling the metal lip of a beverage can could be incorporated
into the design of the sleeve device during the manufacturing
process.
[0068] FIG. 11 indicates a design whereby the central part of a
commercial "Beer" beverage container would be enveloped by a sleeve
device with an optional "Cola" label. The diameter of the top
region of this sleeve device would likely, but not necessarily,
have to be expanded and/or modified slightly to accommodate some
commercial beverage containers with a past, present, and/or future
design, said design possibly being unusual and/or novel. A current
example of this is 12 ounce COORS LIGHT cans, which unlike most 12
ounce beverage cans, for the top roughly 15 mm does not have a
curved inward narrow quality. But, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the
preferred design should be sufficient for most beverage can
containers. Thus, the sleeve device should fit smoothly over the
top of the beer beverage can and be stable, secure, and easy to
apply and remove, while maintaining the aforementioned qualities of
the present invention.
[0069] The bottom of the sleeve device normally ends right below
the beverage can label. This is so that the sleeve device can
maintain the realistic appearance of a genuine beverage can.
However, for aesthetic and other purposes, the vertical length of
the sleeve device could extend all the way down to the bottom of
the beverage can, thus enveloping it completely.
[0070] For the sake of promotion, the sleeve device could be sold
in a six-pack configuration, with an inexpensive construct
mimicking, duplicating and/or resembling the appearance of six-pack
of beverage containers anchored to a common six-pack holder
encompassing six connected rings, entirely and commonly, but not
necessarily, made of either plastic, or some other suitable
material (much in the way commercial six-pack beverage cans are
held in a six-pack configuration) which could serve as a vehicle
for six of the sleeve devices, thus creating the appearance of a
normal common everyday six-pack of beverages, the brands of which
may vary.
[0071] The interior surface of the sleeve device could be coated by
any one of many substances that could provide a rougher more
gripping surface than that of the material ultimately chosen for
said sleeve device's final design. Conversely, said interior
surface could be lubricated to allow easier application and removal
of said sleeve device from said beverage container. In this way,
the sleeve device could, depending on the preference of the
operator, either better adhere to, or more easily slide over and
away from the surface of the beverage can to ensure more stability
of the sleeve device during use. The natural line texture formed
during the 3D printing process could impart better adhesion
properties to both the inside and outside of the sleeve device.
[0072] Means for adhering to surface of the beverage container
could be used in order to completely eliminate the need for the
spacing design described in this patent application. Thus, such
means would ensure that the distance the sleeve device is from the
surface of the beverage can is completely the same and uniform,
with no need for parts of it to be closer or further away. For
example, instead of the top 15 mm of the sleeve device being
roughly 1 mm away from the surface of the beverage can, an insert
that is 1 mm in thickness could stand in its place, with the actual
sleeve device uniformly being 2 mm away from the surface of the
beverage can.
[0073] It should be noted that the optional connection devices for
the various parts of the sleeve device are expected to be numerous
and varied in design and no preference by the present inventor is
given to any which one.
[0074] Conclusion
[0075] As regards the wish of the present inventor to cover every
aspect of said and present invention as thoroughly as possible, the
following excerpt, proficiently describing said present inventor's
wish, is included with this patent application.
[0076] Taken from U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,116:
[0077] "Although this invention has been described with respect to
specific embodiments, the details thereof are not to be construed
as limitations, for it will be apparent that various equivalents,
changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from
the spirit and scope thereof and it is understood that such
equivalent embodiments are intended to be included herein."
* * * * *
References