Device That Reduces the Sound Produced When Opening a Beverage Can with a Tab Opening

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.

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.

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.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that reduces the sound produced when opening a pull-tab beverage can.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

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.

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

Referring to, the present invention provides a sound baffle devicethat reduces the strength (level) of the airborne sound produced when opening a pull-tab beverage can. The sound baffle deviceprovides an arcuate caphave an upper surfacethat a sidewalldepends perpendicular therefrom a periphery of the upper surfacein a first direction, wherein the first direction is toward the top of the beverage canwhen the sound baffle deviceis installed thereon. The sidewallends a bottom lip, whereby a cavity or compartment is defined between the upper walland the sidewall. The bottom lipof the capmay be adapted to operatively associate or circumscribe the lip of the beverage can.

The caphas an access notchextending from its periphery to a central portion of the cap, whereby the access notchprovides passage, from an external environment, through the cavity of the capin 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 capand sidewall.

The access notchmay be defined, in part, by two spaced apart notch sidewallsthat each extend inward, chord-like, in a parallel arrangement relative to each other, from a circumference or periphery of the cap sidewall. The length such notch sidewallsextend inward is a function of the distance a scored can tabis from the can lipof the pull-tab canto which the sound baffle deviceis dimensioned and shaped for. The length such notch sidewallsextend may be at least an inch though they may stop short of connecting to another point on the circular cap sidewall. It is understood that capmay 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.

The capmay provide a cap postextending in the first direction from an underside of the upper wallof the cap. The cross-section of the cap postmay have a linear portion with a centrally disposed semi-circular shape of a protrusion that prevents the cap postfrom rotating or shifting when it is received in a complementary post slot.

The post slotis formed along an upper portion of a sound absorbing baffle. The bafflemay be made of foam or other sound absorbing material. The post slothas a similar cross section as the cap post. The cap postmay extend entirely through the baffleand protrude from an underside of the baffle.

The bafflemay be puck shape but for a baffle access notchformed into or cut out of the sound absorbing material. The baffle access notchmay be bookended by two spaced apart, and in a parallel arrangement with each other, baffle prongs. Each baffle prong, relative to an adjacent portion of the baffle, may form a wall slot, as illustrated in. Each wall slotis dimensioned and shaped to slidably receive one of the notch sidewallsof the capwhile the cap postis received in the cap slot. When the baffleand the capare so mated the baffle prongare inward to its respective notch sidewallrelative to the can tabof the beverage canthe sound baffle deviceis installed on. The “diameter” or width of the bafflemay be dimensioned so as to be less that the “diameter” or width of the sidewallsof the capso that the can lipmay be snugly received by the sound baffle devicewhen it is removably attached to the beverage can.

During such attachment, the capof the sound baffle deviceholds the sound absorbing baffle, by way of the cap postand sandwiched sidewalls. The sound absorbing bafflecovers most of the upper surface of the beverage can, but for the pull tabare which is visible through the aligned access notchesand. The cap postis dimensioned so that during use it applies pressure to the proximal end of the pull tab, adjacent the scored can tab, thereby lifting the distal end of the pull tabby leveraging the pull tababout its fulcrum point (e.g., connection point to the beverage can).

The access provided by way of the access notchesand, enables a userto open the pull tabvia leverage with their fingers as the normal would without additional tools, but quietly as the sound-absorbing material of the baffledirectly overlays the scored can taband the resulting opening of the beverage canso that the sound of carbon dioxide escaping the resulting can opening is captured by the sound absorbing material of the baffle. Then the usermay remove the sound baffle devicefrom the top of the beverage canand enjoy the beverage.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.