Reusable tamper-evident cover that protects beverage containers' drinking area, also once that area is re-covered

Abstract

The invention is a reusable single-piece tamper-evident cover for beverage containers that provides restoration of protection of the container's cover after each re-dressing. All the tamper-evident parts are only in the cover itself and the cover covers the container's drinking area. The cover comprises at least one tamper-evident seal that is inseparable from the cover and extends from at least part of the clasp ring, wherein the clasp ring is configured to prevent removing the cover as long as all tamper-evident seals are intact, wherein all tamper-evident seals are configured so that they are breachable. When the tamper-evident seal is breached, the general integrity of the cover's inner surface is preserved. Therefore, once the cover is re-dressed, protection of the drinking area from outside contamination is restored and the freshness of the container's content is preserved, which is especially useful for sparkling drinks and for people constantly on the move.

1 . A reusable tamper-evident cover that protects beverage containers' drinking area, also once that area is re-covered, comprising:
 a cover top;   a skirt that extends downward from said cover top;   a clasp ring that extends around a full perimeter of said skirt, said clasp ring is positioned between said cover top and a lower part of said skirt that extends downward from said clasp ring, at least said cover top and said skirt and said clasp ring share a contiguous inner surface;   at least one tamper-evident seal that extends outward from at least part of said clasp ring, wherein said clasp ring is configured to prevent removing said cover as long as all tamper-evident seals are intact, wherein all tamper-evident seals are configured so that they are breachable, and this one tamper-evident seal comprising: at least one movable seal tab that is inseparable from said cover, at least two tear lines, and at least two seal stubs; and   at least one tamper-evident seal that extends outward from at least part of said clasp ring, wherein a movable seal tab that is inseparable from said cover is attached by at least two tear lines to at least two seal stubs, whereby when this movable seal tab is pulled along those tear lines attached to its sides, a tear occurs in at least two tear lines attached to its sides without tearing the inner surface of at least the parts of said cover that are above and below said clasp ring.   
     
     
         2 . In the tamper-evident seal, whose movable seal tab can cause a tear in the tear lines attached to its sides, in  claim 1 , the distance between any point on the inner surface below this tamper-evident seal to its opposite and farthest point on the outer surface is greater than the distance between any point on the inner surface of portions of said cover above and below this tamper-evident seal to its opposite and nearest point on the outer surface; so that any pair of said opposite points lies on an imaginary line perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of said cover. 
     
     
         3 . In the clasp ring in  claim 1 , the distance between any point on the inner surface to its opposite and farthest point on the outer surface is greater than the distance between any point on the inner surface of portions of said cover above and below said clasp ring to its opposite and nearest point on the outer surface; so that any pair of said opposite points lies on an imaginary line perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of said cover. 
     
     
         4 . The tear lines attached to its sides in  claim 1  extend partially through a tamper-evident seal. 
     
     
         5 . In the cover in  claim 1 , the inner diameter of said clasp ring is less than at least the inner diameter of a part of said cover above said clasp ring. 
     
     
         6 . The clasp ring in  claim 1  surrounds a circular part of a beverage container and at least part of said clasp ring is located below a circular part of the container whose outer diameter is greater than at least one inner diameter of that part of said clasp ring. 
     
     
         7 . The lower part of the skirt in  claim 1  is below a movable seal tab that is inseparable from said cover and is in a tamper-evident seal; so that an imaginary plane runs parallel to and through a longitudinal center axis of said cover and through these parts. 
     
     
         8 . The lower part of the skirt that extends downward from the clasp ring in  claim 1  extends around a full perimeter of said skirt. 
     
     
         9 . In the cover in  claim 1 , any tear that can occur in any tamper-evident seals, does not tear the inner surface of at least parts of said cover that are above and below said clasp ring. 
     
     
         10 . In the cover in  claim 1 , any tear that can occur in any tamper-evident seals, does not tear the inner surface of said cover. 
     
     
         11 . The inner surface of the cover in  claim 1  is continuous. 
     
     
         12 . In the cover in  claim 1 , all parts of said cover top and said skirt and said clasp ring and all tamper-evident seals are inseparable parts of a single unitary structure. 
     
     
         13 . The single unitary structure in  claim 12  is formed as a single unitary structure. 
     
     
         14 . The single unitary structure in  claim 12  is made from one type of material. 
     
     
         15 . The one type of material in  claim 14  is plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The cover in  claim 1  is applied on beverage cans. 
     
     
         17 . The cans in  claim 16  are metal cans. 
     
     
         18 . The cover in  claim 1  is applied on beverage bottles. 
     
     
         19 . The bottles in  claim 18  are glass bottles. 
     
     
         20 . The glass bottles in  claim 19  have crown cap closures.