Removably-attached, sanitary towelette for a beverage can

Abstract

A hygienic beverage can ( 10 ) that includes a lower concave surface ( 62 ), sides ( 64 ) and an upper surface ( 66 ) having a can opening seal ( 68 ) covered by a pivoting, finger pull-tab ( 70 ). The can ( 10 ) is designed to incorporate a sanitary towelette ( 12 ) and a sanitary can cover ( 40 ). The towelette ( 12 ) can be used by itself or in combination with the can cover ( 40 ). The towelette ( 12 ) is folded and hermetically sealed within a towelette enclosure ( 14 ) that is dimensioned to removably attached within the lower concave surface ( 62 ) of the can ( 10 ). The sanitary can cover ( 40 ) includes an upper section ( 42 ), which covers the entire upper surface ( 66 ) of the can ( 10 ), and an integral flange ( 40 ) that frictionally fits around the diameter of the can ( 10 ). The flange ( 40 ) includes a perforated tear-strip ( 46 ) that, when pulled and removed, the upper section ( 42 ) of the cover ( 40 ) can be separated from the flange ( 44 ) to expose the can's opening seal ( 68 ) and the pull-tab ( 70 ).

1 . A hygienic beverage can having a lower concave surface, sides, and an upper surface having a can opening seal covered by a pivoting, finger pull-tab that, when pulled, the can opening seal is depressed allowing the contents of the can to be poured or drank directly from the can, said sanitary beverage can comprising: 
 a) a sanitary towelette that is repeatably folded until the dimensions of the folded towelette are less than the area bordering the lower concave surface of the can,    b) a towelette enclosure dimensioned to hermetically seal the entire folded towelette, and    c) means for removably attaching the hermetically sealed towelette enclosure to the bottom concave surface of said can, wherein said towelette is available for use when said enclosure is removed from said can and said towelette is removed from said enclosure.    
     
     
         2 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 1  wherein said sanitary towelette is made from paper, fabric or a pre-moistened paper or fabric material.  
     
     
         3 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 2  wherein said towelette is 7-inches (17.8 cm) wide by 13-inches (33.0 cm) long, wherein said towelette is repeatably folded until the size of the towelette is substantially 1-inch (7.54 cm) square.  
     
     
         4 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 3  wherein said towelette enclosure is made of a thin plastic having one end that is sealed by a heat sealing process or an adhesive.  
     
     
         5 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 4  wherein said means for attaching the towelette enclosure to the bottom surface of said can comprises an adhesive.  
     
     
         6 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 4  wherein said means for attaching the towelette enclosure to the bottom surface of said can comprises a double-sided tape.  
     
     
         7 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 6  wherein when said enclosure is attached, the outer surface of the enclosure is above the lower concave surface of the can.  
     
     
         8 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 1  wherein said sanitary towelette can include on its outer surface promotional indicia.  
     
     
         9 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 1  further comprising a sanitary can cover comprising: 
 a) an upper section dimensioned to cover the entire upper surface of the can,  
 b) an integral flange that extends downward from the periphery of said sanitary can cover and that is dimensioned to frictionally fit around the diameter of said can, and  
 c) means for removing said hygienic can cover from the can, wherein when removed the can opening is exposed.  
 
     
     
         10 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 9  wherein said can cover is made of a thin plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 9  wherein said means for removing said sanitary can cover comprises said flange having a tear strip located around the circumference of said flange, and having a strip pull-tab that when pulled, said tear strip is removed, thus allowing said cover to separate from said flange.  
     
     
         12 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 11  wherein said can cover further comprises a hinge located at an intersection between said upper section and said flange, wherein said hinge allows said cover to separate from said flange and to also remain fastened to one end of said flange.  
     
     
         13 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 12  wherein said hinge is comprised of a living hinge.  
     
     
         14 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 9  wherein said hygienic can cover further comprises a can-opening tear strip that encompasses said can's opening and said finger pull-tab, wherein when said can-opening tear strip is pulled and removed, said can opening and said finger pull-tab are exposed.  
     
     
         15 . A hygienic beverage can having a lower concave surface, sides, and an upper surface having a can opening seal covered by a pivoting, finger pull-tab that, when pulled, the can opening seal is depressed, thus allowing the contents of the can to be poured or drank directly form the can, said sanitary beverage can comprising: 
 a) a sanitary towelette comprising: 
 (1) a re-moistened material that is repeatably folded until the size of the folded towelette is less than the area bordering the lower concave surface of said can,  
 (2) a towelette enclosure dimensioned to hermetically seal the entire folded towelette, and  
 (3) means for removably attaching the hermetically sealed towelette enclosure to the lower concave surface of said can, wherein said towelette is removable for use when said enclosure is detached form the can and the towelette is removed from said enclosure.  
   b) a hygienic can cover comprising: 
 (1) an upper section dimensioned to cover the entire upper surface of the can,  
 (2) an integral flange that extends downward from the periphery of said sanitary can cover and that is dimensioned to frictionally fit around the diameter of said can, and  
 (3) a tear strip located around the circumference of said flange and having a strip pull tab that, when pulled, said tear strip is removed, thus allowing said cover to separate from said flange.  
   
     
     
         16 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 15  further comprising a living hinge located at an intersection between said upper section and said flange, wherein said hinge allows said cover to separate from said flange but to remain fastened to one end of said flange.  
     
     
         17 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 15  wherein said cover is thermoformed from a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         18 . The hygienic beverage can as specified in  claim 15  wherein said tear strip is separated by a multiplicity of perforations.