Device that reduces the sound produced when opening a beverage can with a tab opening

Abstract

A device that reduces the sound produced when opening a pull-tab beverage can is provided. The device provides a cap portion dimensioned and shaped to cover a top of the pull-tab beverage can but for a cap access notch. The device further provides a baffle dimensioned to be sandwiched between the cap portion and an upper surface of the pull-tab beverage can but for a baffle access notch, wherein the baffle and cap access notches align to provide access to a distal end of a pull tab of the pull-tab beverage can, and wherein the baffle is overlain an entirety of a can tab operatively associated with the pull tab.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to “pull-tab” beverage cans and, more particularly, to a device that reduces the sound produced when opening a pull-tab beverage can.

[0002] Many times, one wants to open a pull-tab beverage can without arousing or disturbing people around you, as many such pull-tab beverage cans contain carbonated soft drinks or alcoholic drinks where the carbon dioxide separates from the liquid and migrates to the top of the can, increasing the pressure and making the can prone to emitting an audible, instantly recognizable ‘pop’ sound. Therefore, one often forgoes refreshment or endures criticism for opening the pull-tab beverage can around others.

[0003] Current solutions to this problem are either makeshift, which give rise to embarrassment, or are techniques to more quietly and slowly pulling the tab open that are unsatisfyingly ineffective at reducing the sounds generated by opening the can tab as the solution softens the sounds produced, but because of the instantly recognizability of the sound, is still perceived as offensive to the ear. These solutions do not work well because they increase the duration in which noise is produced from opening or do not effectively dampen the higher pitched sounds, and so generate differently annoying sounds then through the conventional opening of a tabbed beverage can.

[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a device that reduces the sound produced when opening a pull-tab beverage can.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention covers the scored can tab of the tabbed beverage can with sound reducing foam in a specially designed case, thereby lowering the absolute and perceived noise produced when the can is opened while still allowing the can to be opened easily. The present invention is also designed to be small and lightweight, so it is easily carried wherever one wishes to open a canned beverage around other people.

[0006] The present invention is adaptable to fit on top of pull-tab beverage cans of any size and reduce the sounds produced when the can is opened.

[0007] The present invention covers the scored can tab of the tabbed beverage can with sound reducing foam in a specially designed body thus lowering the absolute and perceived noise when opening while still allowing the can to be opening easily.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, a sound baffle device for a pull-tab beverage can provides the following: a cap portion dimensioned and shaped to cover a top of the pull-tab beverage can but for a cap access notch; and a baffle dimensioned to be sandwiched between the cap portion and an upper surface of the pull-tab beverage can but for a baffle access notch, wherein the baffle and cap access notches align to provide access to a distal end of a pull tab of the pull-tab beverage can, and wherein the baffle is overlain an entirety of a can tab operatively associated with the pull tab.

[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, the sound baffle device further provides the following: a cap post projecting from an underside of the cap portion; and a post slot formed in an upper surface of the baffle for slidably receiving the cap post, wherein the cap portion provides two spaced apart notch sidewalls that define a distal portion of the cap access notch, wherein the baffle provides two baffle prongs, each baffle prong adjacent to one of both longitudinal edges of the baffle access notch so as to define two wall slots dimensioned to slidably receive the two spaced apart notch sidewalls, wherein the two baffle prongs are inward of the cap access notch, wherein the cap portion provides a peripheral sidewall dimensioned to operatively associate with an exterior surface of a can lip of the pull-tab beverage can, and wherein the baffle has a perimetral surface dimensioned so that said can lip is snugly receivable between the perimetral surface of the baffle and the peripheral sidewall of the cap portion.

[0010] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown installed on a can 24.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a bottom front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a detailed exploded bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a user 32 lifting the pull tab 30 which in turn presses down a scored can tab 28 overlain by sound absorbing material of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0018] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a device that reduces the sound produced when opening a pull-tab beverage can.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention provides a sound baffle device 100 that reduces the strength (level) of the airborne sound produced when opening a pull-tab beverage can 24. The sound baffle device 100 provides an arcuate cap 10 have an upper surface 11 that a sidewall 15 depends perpendicular therefrom a periphery of the upper surface 11 in a first direction, wherein the first direction is toward the top of the beverage can 24 when the sound baffle device 100 is installed thereon. The sidewall 16 ends a bottom lip 16, whereby a cavity or compartment is defined between the upper wall 11 and the sidewall 15. The bottom lip 16 of the cap 10 may be adapted to operatively associate or circumscribe the lip of the beverage can 24.

[0020] The cap 10 has an access notch 14 extending from its periphery to a central portion of the cap 10, whereby the access notch 14 provides passage, from an external environment, through the cavity of the cap 10 in the first direction as well a into the cavity in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, whereby the second direction is a radial direction relative to a circular cap 10 and sidewall 15.

[0021] The access notch 14 may be defined, in part, by two spaced apart notch sidewalls 13 that each extend inward, chord-like, in a parallel arrangement relative to each other, from a circumference or periphery of the cap sidewall 15. The length such notch sidewalls 13 extend inward is a function of the distance a scored can tab 28 is from the can lip 26 of the pull-tab can 24 to which the sound baffle device 100 is dimensioned and shaped for. The length such notch sidewalls 13 extend may be at least an inch though they may stop short of connecting to another point on the circular cap sidewall 15. It is understood that cap 10 may be other shapes than circular, as shown in the appended illustrations, and that use of circular-based terms is not to be considered limiting but rather used to facilitate understanding given the appended illustrations.

[0022] The cap 10 may provide a cap post 12 extending in the first direction from an underside of the upper wall 11 of the cap 10. The cross-section of the cap post 12 may have a linear portion with a centrally disposed semi-circular shape of a protrusion that prevents the cap post 12 from rotating or shifting when it is received in a complementary post slot 20.

[0023] The post slot 20 is formed along an upper portion of a sound absorbing baffle 18. The baffle 18 may be made of foam or other sound absorbing material. The post slot 20 has a similar cross section as the cap post 12. The cap post 12 may extend entirely through the baffle 18 and protrude from an underside of the baffle 18.

[0024] The baffle 18 may be puck shape but for a baffle access notch 22 formed into or cut out of the sound absorbing material. The baffle access notch 22 may be bookended by two spaced apart, and in a parallel arrangement with each other, baffle prongs 23. Each baffle prong 23, relative to an adjacent portion of the baffle 18, may form a wall slot 25, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Each wall slot 25 is dimensioned and shaped to slidably receive one of the notch sidewalls 13 of the cap 10 while the cap post 12 is received in the cap slot 20. When the baffle 18 and the cap 10 are so mated the baffle prong 23 are inward to its respective notch sidewall 13 relative to the can tab 28 of the beverage can 24 the sound baffle device 100 is installed on. The “diameter” or width of the baffle 18 may be dimensioned so as to be less that the “diameter” or width of the sidewalls 15 of the cap 10 so that the can lip 26 may be snugly received by the sound baffle device 100 when it is removably attached to the beverage can 24.

[0025] During such attachment, the cap 10 of the sound baffle device 100 holds the sound absorbing baffle 18, by way of the cap post 12 and sandwiched sidewalls 15. The sound absorbing baffle 18 covers most of the upper surface of the beverage can 24, but for the pull tab 30 are which is visible through the aligned access notches 14 and 22. The cap post 12 is dimensioned so that during use it applies pressure to the proximal end of the pull tab 30, adjacent the scored can tab 28, thereby lifting the distal end of the pull tab 30 by leveraging the pull tab 30 about its fulcrum point (e.g., connection point to the beverage can 24).

[0026] The access provided by way of the access notches 14 and 22, enables a user 32 to open the pull tab 30 via leverage with their fingers as the normal would without additional tools, but quietly as the sound-absorbing material of the baffle 18 directly overlays the scored can tab 28 and the resulting opening of the beverage can 24 so that the sound of carbon dioxide escaping the resulting can opening is captured by the sound absorbing material of the baffle 18. Then the user 32 may remove the sound baffle device 100 from the top of the beverage can 24 and enjoy the beverage.

[0027] As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

[0028] For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

[0029] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,”“such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

[0030] In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,”“second,”“top,”“bottom,”“up,”“down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0031] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A sound baffle device for a pull-tab beverage can, the sound baffle device comprising:a cap portion dimensioned and shaped to cover a top of the pull-tab beverage can but for a cap access notch; anda baffle dimensioned to be sandwiched between the cap portion and an upper surface of the pull-tab beverage can but for a baffle access notch, wherein the baffle and cap access notches align to provide access to a distal end of a pull tab of the pull-tab beverage can, and wherein the baffle is overlain an entirety of a can tab operatively associated with the pull tab.

2. The sound baffle device of claim 1, further comprising a cap post projecting from an underside of the cap portion; and a post slot formed in an upper surface of the baffle for slidably receiving the cap post.

3. The sound baffle device of claim 2, wherein the cap portion provides two spaced apart notch sidewalls that define a distal portion of the cap access notch, wherein the baffle provides two baffle prongs, each baffle prong adjacent to one of both longitudinal edges of the baffle access notch so as to define two wall slots dimensioned to slidably receive the two spaced apart notch sidewalls.

4. The sound baffle device of claim 3, wherein the two baffle prongs are inward of the cap access notch.

5. The sound baffle device of claim 4, wherein the cap portion provides a peripheral sidewall dimensioned to operatively associate with an exterior surface of a can lip of the pull-tab beverage can.

6. The sound baffle device of claim 5, wherein the baffle has a perimetral surface dimensioned so that said can lip is snugly receivable between the perimetral surface of the baffle and the peripheral sidewall of the cap portion.

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