Beverage Can Shield Assembly

Abstract

A beverage can shield assembly for protecting a consumer from potential contaminants on a beverage can includes a beverage can that has a drinking flap and a tab that is movably integrated into the beverage can for opening the drinking flap. A shield is bonded to the beverage can and the shield surrounds the drinking flap to facilitate a beverage to be consumed. The shield is comprised of a sterilized material to inhibit contact transmission of bacteria or viruses between a consumer and the beverage can when the consumer drinks from the beverage can. A protective sheet is removably bonded to the shield for preserving sterility of the shield. The protective sheet is peelable from the shield to facilitate the consumer to drink the beverage in the beverage can.

1 . A beverage can shield assembly having a sterilized drinking flap to enhance cleanliness and safety for a consumer, said assembly comprising:
 a beverage can having the drinking flap and a tab being movably integrated into said beverage can for opening said drinking flap;   a shield being bonded to said beverage can, said shield surrounding said drinking flap wherein said shield is configured to pass a beverage in said beverage can through said shield to facilitate the beverage to be consumed, said shield being comprised of a sterilized material wherein said shield is configured to inhibit contact transmission of bacteria or viruses between a consumer and said beverage can when the consumer drinks from said beverage can; and   a protective sheet being removably bonded to said shield for preserving sterility of said shield, said protective sheet covering said drinking flap when said protective sheet is covering said shield, said protective sheet being peelable from said shield to expose said drinking flap wherein said protective sheet is configured to facilitate the consumer to drink the beverage in said beverage can;   wherein said beverage can has a top wall and an outer wall, said drinking flap extending through said top wall at a point being located adjacent to said outer wall, said tab being positioned on said top wall at a point being located between said drinking flap and a center point of said top wall;   wherein said shield has a first surface and a second surface, said shield having an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface, said first surface being bonded to said top wall of said beverage can having said aperture surrounding said drinking flap and said tab wherein said shield is configured to inhibit a consumer's top lip from contacting said top wall of said beverage can when the consumer drinks from said beverage can;   wherein said protective sheet has a primary surface, a secondary surface and a perimeter edge extending between said primary surface and said secondary surface, said perimeter edge having a front side and a back side, said back side being coupled to said second surface of said shield at location being aligned with a rear edge of said shield; and   wherein said protective sheet has a cut extending through said primary surface and said secondary surface, said cut being elongated to extend substantially between said front side and said back side of said perimeter edge, said cut being centrally positioned on said shield.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said shield extends downwardly along said outer wall of said beverage can having said first surface being bonded to said outer wall wherein said shield is configured to inhibit the consumer's bottom lip from contacting said outer wall of said beverage can when the consumer drinks from said beverage can. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to claim  1 L wherein said primary surface of said protective sheet releasably adheres to said second surface of said shield, said cut being closed around said tab when said protective sheet is releasably adhered to said shield, said cut being spread around said tab when said protective sheet is peeled from said shield. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said front side of said perimeter edge has a lobe extending away therefrom such that said lobe extends beyond a front edge of said shield wherein said lobe is configured to be gripped for peeling said protective sheet from said shield. 
     
     
         8 . A beverage can shield assembly having a sterilized drinking flap to enhance cleanliness and safety for a consumer, said assembly comprising:
 a beverage can having a drinking flap and a tab being movably integrated into said beverage can for opening said drinking flap, said beverage can having a top wall and an outer wall, said drinking flap extending through said top wall at a point being located adjacent to said outer wall, said tab being positioned on said top wall at a point being located between said drinking flap and a center point of said top wall;   a shield being bonded to said beverage can, said shield surrounding said drinking flap wherein said shield is configured to pass a beverage in said beverage can through said shield to facilitate the beverage to be consumed, said shield being comprised of a sterilized material wherein said shield is configured to inhibit contact transmission of bacteria or viruses between a consumer and said beverage can when the consumer drinks from said beverage can, said shield having a first surface and a second surface, said shield having an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface, said first surface being bonded to said top wall of said beverage can having said aperture surrounding said drinking flap and said tab wherein said shield is configured to inhibit a consumer's top lip from contacting said top wall of said beverage can when the consumer drinks from said beverage can, said shield extending downwardly along said outer wall of said beverage can having said first surface being bonded to said outer wall wherein said shield is configured to inhibit the consumer's bottom lip from contacting said outer wall of said beverage can when the consumer drinks from said beverage can; and   a protective sheet being removably bonded to said shield for preserving sterility of said shield, said protective sheet covering said drinking flap when said protective sheet is covering said shield, said protective sheet being peelable from said shield to expose said drinking flap wherein said protective sheet is configured to facilitate the consumer to drink the beverage in said beverage can, said protective sheet having a primary surface, a secondary surface and a perimeter edge extending between said primary surface and said secondary surface, said perimeter edge having a front side and a back side, said back side being coupled to said second surface of said shield at location being aligned with a rear edge of said shield, said protective sheet having a cut extending through said primary surface and said secondary surface, said cut being elongated to extend substantially between said front side and said back side of said perimeter edge, said cut being centrally positioned on said shield, said primary surface of said protective sheet releasably adhering to said second surface of said shield, said cut being closed around said tab when said protective sheet is releasably adhered to said shield, said cut being spread around said tab when said protective sheet is peeled from said shield, said front side of said perimeter edge having a lobe extending away therefrom such that said lobe extends beyond a front edge of said shield wherein said lobe is configured to be gripped for peeling said protective sheet from said shield.