Beverage can protection device and a system therefor

Abstract

A beverage can protection device includes a housing, a lid, and a mating assembly. The housing has a substantially cylindrical cavity designed to receive and removably store a beverage can therein, wherein the housing includes a non-insulating material to permit exchange of heat through the housing and cooling of a beverage can in the housing. The lid removably covers an open end of the cavity such that the housing and the lid enclose and protect a beverage can from impact damage from objects adjacent a beverage can due to shaking or jostling during transport in or on a vehicle over rough surfaces. The mating assembly detachably connects the housing and the lid.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A beverage can protection device comprising:
 a housing having a substantially cylindrical cavity configured to receive and removably store a beverage can therein, wherein said housing comprises a non-insulating material to permit exchange of heat through said housing and cooling of a beverage can in said housing;   a lid removably covering an open end of said cavity such that said housing and said lid enclose and protect a beverage can from impact damage from objects adjacent a beverage can due to shaking or jostling during transport in or on a vehicle over rough surfaces; and   a mating assembly detachably connecting said housing and said lid.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises at least one orifice to permit viewing of a beverage can in said housing and passage of air or water to cool a beverage can in said housing. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 2 , wherein the beverage can protection device further comprises a securing member configured to detachably connect the beverage can protection device to a support structure. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage can protection device further comprises a securing member configured to detachably connect the beverage can protection device to a support structure. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 3 , wherein said housing comprises a base portion to support a beverage can thereon, and said securing member is disposed on an outer surface of said base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 5 , wherein said housing comprises a lip portion and a side wall extending from said base portion to said lip portion, and said mating assembly comprises a first mating member disposed on an outer surface of said lip portion and a second mating member disposed on an inner surface of said lid, and said securing member of said base portion is configured to matingly engage with said second mating member of said lid to permit temporary storage of said lid when said lid is disconnected from said lip portion. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said first mating member comprises a tab and said second mating member comprises a slot and a retaining projection in said slot, wherein said tab is selectively engaged and disengaged with said retaining projection and said slot by relative rotation of said lid and said housing; and   said securing member comprises a tab, wherein said tab is selectively engaged and disengaged with said retaining projection and said slot by relative rotation of said lid and said housing.   
     
     
         8 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said mating assembly comprises a plurality of said first mating members and a plurality of said second mating members; and   said base portion has a plurality of said securing members.   
     
     
         9 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 8 , wherein said housing has a height less than a height of a beverage can such that a mouth portion of a beverage can projects out of said housing when a beverage can is in said housing. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the beverage can protection device further comprises gripping projections disposed on an outer surface of said housing. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage can protection device of  claim 10 , wherein said gripping projections comprise elongated ribs, and each of said elongated ribs comprises a first portion disposed on said housing and a second portion disposed on said lid. 
     
     
         12 . A beverage can protection system comprising:
 a beverage can protection device comprising:
 a housing having a substantially cylindrical cavity configured to receive and removably store a beverage can therein; 
 a lid removably covering an open end of said cavity such that said housing and said lid enclose and protect a beverage can from impact damage from objects adjacent a beverage can due to shaking or jostling during transport in or on a vehicle over rough surfaces; and 
 a mating assembly detachably connecting said housing and said lid; 
   a support structure; and   a securing assembly detachably connecting the beverage can protection device to said support structure.   
     
     
         13 . The beverage can protection system of  claim 12 , wherein said securing assembly comprises a first securing member disposed on the beverage can protection device and a second securing member disposed on said support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage can protection system of  claim 13 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of the beverage can protection devices and securing assemblies and said support structure comprises a plurality of receptacles, wherein each of the beverage can protection devices has one of said first securing members disposed on an outer surface thereof and each of said plurality of receptacles has one of said second securing members disposed on an inner surface thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage can protection system of  claim 14 , wherein said support structure comprises mounting projections to detachably mount said support structure to a vehicle or to support said support structure on the bottom of a portable container for transporting beverage cans. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage can protection system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the beverage can protection devices has multicolored design elements on said lid to indicate at least different types of beverage cans in each of the beverage can protection devices. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage can protection system of  claim 14 , wherein each of said securing assemblies comprises an adapter structure insertable between and to detachably connect said first securing member and said second securing member when its corresponding base portion is smaller in diameter than its corresponding receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage can protection system of  claim 14 , wherein said housing comprises a non-insulating material to permit exchange of heat through said housing and cooling of a beverage can in said housing. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage can protection system of  claim 14 , wherein said housing comprises a base portion to support a beverage can thereon, and said first securing member is disposed on an outer surface of said base portion, and wherein said housing comprises a lip portion and a side wall extending from said base portion to said lip portion, and said mating assembly comprises a first mating member disposed on an outer surface of said lip portion and a second mating member disposed on an inner surface of said lid, and said securing member of said base portion is configured to matingly engage with said second mating member of said lid to permit temporary storage of said lid when said lid is disconnected from said lip portion. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage can protection system of  claim 14 , wherein said housing comprises at least one orifice to permit viewing of a beverage can in said housing and passage of air or water to cool a beverage can in said housing.