Contamination free beverage can

Abstract

A readily manually removable and replaceable closure for reclosing beverage cans. The can has a principal opening for discharging liquids for drinking. The closure comprises a sealing member and a separate clamp. The clamp may thread to the body of the beverage can, and may have a depression formed therein so that a second can may be stacked thereon. The threading elements of the clamp and of the body may each extend less than half way around the circumference of the body such that the second closure may be secured by twist action after rotation of ten to fifteen degrees after initial contact of the threading elements. A foil bearing adhesive may be provided to cover that portion of the can contacted by the mouth when drinking.

1 . A beverage can for containing fluid contents, comprising:
 a body which further comprises a lateral wall which is dimensioned and configured to define an interior having a top end, a bottom end, and a lateral boundary spanning the top end and the bottom end , wherein the lateral boundary is entirely sealed along its entire extent, a floor which is disposed to seal the bottom end, and a ceiling which is disposed to cover the top end, wherein the ceiling comprises a drinking opening formed therein for providing access to liquids contained within the body, wherein the ceiling apart from the drinking opening seals the top end, and a first engagement element;   a sealing disc located at the top end for closing the drinking opening formed in the ceiling; and   a clamp disposed to clamp the sealing disc to the top end of the beverage can, wherein the clamp has a reusable second engagement element which is matingly compatible with the first engagement element of the body of the beverage can, which reusable second engagement element enables the clamp to be manually removed from the can and manually reinstalled to the can, whereby the can may be repeatedly opened and closed to protect its contents.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing disc comprises a compressible stratum enabling the sealing disc to conform to the ceiling of the beverage can when the clamp exerts clamping force urging the sealing disc towards the ceiling of the beverage can. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing disc comprises a structural stratum and a compressible stratum coupled to the structural stratum. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing disc comprises a projecting portion which is dimensioned and configured to enter and seal the drinking opening of the beverage can. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a recess for seating the floor of a similar beverage can which is placed against the beverage can, whereby the beverage can is stackable. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement element of the body and the second engagement element of the clamp comprise respective complementing threading features. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage can of  claim 6 , wherein the threading feature of the body comprises a plurality of short, angularly spaced apart discontinuous threading elements. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage can of  claim 7 , wherein the discontinuous threading elements of the body are separated from one another by angular zones and are located along the circumference of the body away from the drinking opening such that the angular zone located at the drinking opening is no less in angular magnitude than any of the other angular zones. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage can of  claim 7 , wherein the discontinuous threading elements of the body comprise three discontinuous threading elements spaced apart from one another at intervals of one hundred twenty degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein the threading elements of the body project outwardly from the lateral wall of the body, and wherein the threading feature of the clamp comprises at least one inwardly projecting threading element disposed to engage the threading elements of the lateral wall of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage can of  claim 6 , wherein the threading feature of the clamp comprises a plurality of inwardly facing lugs. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage can of  claim 6 , wherein the threading feature of the clamp and the threading feature of the body of the beverage can are dimensioned and configured such that the clamp may be secured to the body by twist action when the clamp is twisted by an angular helical motion within a range of ten to thirty degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage can of  claim 6 , wherein the threading feature of the clamp and the complementing feature of the body of the beverage can are dimensioned and configured such that the clamp may be secured to the body by twist action when the clamp is twisted by an angular helical motion within a range of ten to fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage can of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective foil bearing adhesive, which is dimensioned and configured to cover that portion of the beverage can which is contacted by the mouth when a person is drinking from the beverage container. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage can of  claim 1 , wherein the body and the clamp are fabricated from an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         16 . A protective cover for a beverage can comprising a body further comprising a ceiling and a drinking opening formed in the ceiling, comprising:
 a sealing disc located at the top end for closing the drinking opening formed in the ceiling; and   a separate clamp disposed to clamp the sealing disc to the top end of the beverage can, wherein the clamp has a reusable second engagement element which is matingly compatible with the first engagement element of the body of the beverage can, which reusable second engagement element enables the clamp to be manually removed from the can and manually reinstalled to the can, whereby the can may be repeatedly opened and closed to protect its contents.   
     
     
         17 . The protective cover of  claim 16 , wherein the sealing disc comprises a compressible stratum enabling the sealing disc to conform to the ceiling of the beverage can when the clamp exerts clamping force urging the sealing disc towards the ceiling of the beverage can. 
     
     
         18 . The protective cover of  claim 16 , wherein the sealing disc comprises a projecting portion which is dimensioned and configured to enter and seal the drinking opening of the beverage can. 
     
     
         19 . The protective cover of  claim 16 , wherein the clamp comprises a recess for seating the floor of a similar beverage can which is placed against the beverage can, whereby the beverage can is stackable relative to similar beverage cans when the clamp is threaded thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The protective cover of  claim 16 , wherein the threading feature of the clamp comprises a plurality of inwardly facing lugs.