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  Can cover with a stay-on tabUSPTO Application #: 20080000905Title: Can cover with a stay-on tab Abstract: A can cover with a stay-on tab has one end and another end of the stay-on tab respectively inclined upwardly from the upper surface of the can cover so that there are distances between the one end of the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover and between the other end of the-stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover. The distance between the other end of the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover is made larger when the end of the stay-on tab is pushed downwardly toward the upper surface of the can cover. The stay-on tab moves like a seesaw. Wrinkles are provided as indentations extending across the can cover. (end of abstract)
Agent: Egbert Law Offices - Houston, TX, US Inventor: Yoshiharu Omura USPTO Applicaton #: 20080000905 - Class: 220269000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Receptacles, Closures, With Closure Opening Arrangements For Means (e.g., Opening Devices), Frangible Member Or Portion, About Line Or Point Of Weakness, Non-removable Member Or Portion, Gripping Means Attached To Or Integral With Member Or Portion (e.g., Pull Tab) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080000905. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/038,278, filed on Jan. 4, 2002, and entitled "Can Cover with a Stay-On Tab", presently pending. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] Not applicable. REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX [0003] Not applicable. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention relates to a can cover or a can top with a stay-on tab. Particularly the invention relates to a can cover having a stay-on tab which can be easily pulled upward with a finger. The present invention also relates to can covers that include structures that prevent swelling of the can cover. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] A cover of a can containing a drink is usually provided with a stay-on tab thereon. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a conventional can cover 1 with a stay-on tab 3. The conventional stay-on tab 3 is attached to the upper surface of the can cover 1 by a supporting means 5 protruding upward from the can cover 13. The stay-on tab 3 is in close contact with the upper surface of the can cover 1. The can cover 1 is provided under one end 3a of the stay-on tab 8 with scores 7 for inducing rupture. One end 3a of the stay-on tab 3 is adapted to push downward on a portion 8 surrounded by the scores 7 so as to form a content take-out hole when another end 3b of the stay-on tab 3 is pulled upward from the upper surface of the can cover 1. [0006] In the conventional stay-on tab 3, a supporting means 5 is connected to a central portion 3c of the stay-on tab 3. The central portion 3c is continued to the one end 8a of the stay-on tab 3 and separated from another end 3b of the stay-on tab 3 so that the end 3b can be pulled upward from the upper surface of the can cover 1 while the central portion 3c remains in close contact with the upper surface of the can cover 1. There is an opening 9 between the central portion 3c of the stay-on tab 3 and the another end 3b thereof. The opening 9 is formed by cutting off a portion of the material corresponding thereto. [0007] The conventional can cover with the stay-on tab has several disadvantages. Since the stay-on tab is in close contact with the upper surface of the can cover, it is very difficult to insert a finger between the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover in order to pull upward on the other end of the stay-on tab. Also, the stay-on tab is likely to be turned in a horizontal direction by an external cause during the transportation, storage, etc. of the can. In such a case, it is often difficult to open the can. Since the central portion of the stay-on tab is separated from the other end of the stay-on tab, the stay-on tab may be broken when the other end is pulled upward from the upper surface of the can cover. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a can cover with a stay-on tab which has obviated all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. [0009] It is another object of the invention to provide a can cover with a stay-on tab in which it is very easy to insert a finger between the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover in order to pull upward on the other end of the stay-on tab. [0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a can cover with a stay-on tab in which the tab is prevented from being turned in a horizontal direction by an external cause during the transportation, storage, etc. of the can. [0011] It is a further object of the invention to provide a can cover with a stay-on tab in which the tab is prevented from being broken when the other end of the stay-on tab is pulled upward from the upper surface of the can cover. [0012] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a can cover that serves to prevent upward swelling of the can cover by an expansion of the contents of the can. [0013] These and other objects have been attained by a can cover with a stay-on tab. The stay-on tab is attached to an upper surface of the can cover by a supporting means protruding upward from the can cover. The can cover is provided under one end of the stay-on tab with scores for inducing rupture. One end of the stay-on tab is adapted to push downward on a portion surrounded by the scores so as to form a content take-out hole when another end of the stay-on tab is pulled upward. The supporting means is connected to a central portion of the stay-on tab. The central portion of the stay-on tab is continued to one end of the stay-on tab and separated from the other end of the stay-on tab so that the other end can be pulled upward from the upper surface of the can cover while the central portion remains in close contact with the upper surface of the can cover. The ends of the stay-on tab are respectively inclined upward from the upper surface of the can cover so that there are distances between one end of the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover and between the other end of the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover. The distance between the other end of the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover are made larger when one end of the stay-on tab is pushed downward toward the upper surface of the can cover. [0014] There is always a distance between the other end of the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover. This distance becomes larger when the one end of the stay-on tab is pushed downward toward the upper surface of the can cover. In other words, the stay-on tab moves like a seesaw. When one end of the stay-on tab is pushed downwardly, the other end of the stay-on tab is moved upwardly. Therefore, it is very easy to insert a finger between the other end of the stay-on tab and the upper surface of the can cover in order to pull upward the on the other end of the stay-on tab. [0015] The supporting means protruding upward from the can cover preferably has an elliptic or polygonal section so as to prevent the stay-on tab from being turned in a horizontal direction. [0016] Alternatively, an auxiliary supporting means protrudes upward from the can cover beside the supporting means. The auxiliary supporting means is connected to the central portion of said stay-on tab. The auxiliary supporting means passes through the central portion and protrudes upward from the central portion. [0017] An upper end of the auxiliary supporting means is preferably spread so as to form a head. [0018] The can cover preferably has wrinkles formed thereacross so as to prevent the can cover from being swelled upward by the expansion of the contents of the can. The can cover is often swelled upward by the expansion of the contents of the can. This is likely to occur when the can contains beer, soda water, soft drinks, etc. If the can cover is swelled upward, it may be impossible to provide a stay-on tab having one end and another end thereof respectively inclined upward from the upper surface of the can cover. Continue reading... Full patent description for Can cover with a stay-on tab Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Can cover with a stay-on tab patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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