A “clean can” beverage can includes a beverage can body and a beverage can top coupled to the body. The can top is shaped to define a groove between a lower inside edge of the rim of the can top and an upper surface of the can top. A groove cover is disposed to cover the groove along at least a port
A “clean can” beverage can includes a beverage can body and a beverage can top coupled to the body. The can top is shaped to define a groove between a lower inside edge of the rim of the can top and an upper surface of the can top. A groove cover is disposed to cover the groove along at least a portion of the groove that is located adjacent to the openable section of the can top. The groove cover prevents collection of debris in the groove. The groove allows the can top to be wiped clean without debris getting stuck in the groove by sloping upwards towards the top of the tim. The groove cover can also cover the rim and an upper portion of the can body. The groove cover provides a more sanitary drinking experience and serves as a marketing surface.
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1. A beverage can comprising: a can body;a can top coupled to the can body, the can top shaped to define a rim and an upper surface that includes an openable section of the can top, the can top shape further defining a groove between an inside lower edge of the rim of the can top and an outer edge o
1. A beverage can comprising: a can body;a can top coupled to the can body, the can top shaped to define a rim and an upper surface that includes an openable section of the can top, the can top shape further defining a groove between an inside lower edge of the rim of the can top and an outer edge of the upper surface of the can top; a groove cover disposed over the groove to cover at least a portion of the groove, the groove cover providing a substantially sloped surface sloping downwards and inwards from a top region of the rim of the can top towards the upper surface of the can top, the at least a portion of the groove that is covered being located adjacent to the openable section of the can top and allowing the openable section to be uncovered, the groove cover preventing collection of debris in the at least a portion of the groove over which the groove cover resides; andwherein the groove cover is a non-toxic material. 2. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is disposed over the groove to cover the groove between the inside edge of the rim of the can top and the upper surface of the can top along an entire length of the groove, the groove cover providing an upper groove cover surface sloping between the inside edge of the rim of the can top and the upper surface of the can top to prevent collection of debris in the groove defined by the can top. 3. The beverage can of claim 2 wherein the upper groove cover surface is substantially smooth and is concave in shape to curve upwardly from the upper surface of can top towards the top of the rim of the can top to promote ease of movement of debris towards and up and over the rim of the can top during wiping of the can top to clean the can top. 4. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is disposed in the at least a portion of the groove and fills the groove, the groove cover preventing debris from collecting in the at least a portion of the groove that is filled by the groove cover. 5. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is initially a fluid that maintains an initial fluid state that flows into the groove and conforms and adheres to outer surfaces of the can top, the fluid groove cover changing from the initial fluid state to a substantially solid groove cover that adheres to surfaces of the can top that define the groove and that is non-toxic. 6. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is made of a biodegradable material. 7. The beverage can of claim 5 wherein the groove cover as the fluid, prior to changing state into the substantially solid groove cover, has a surface tension in its fluid state that causes the liquid groove cover to creep up the inner sides of the rim of the can top and the upper surface of the can top to create a slightly concave curved upper groove cover surface that slopes between inner sides of the rim of the can top and the upper surface of the can top, the slightly concave curved upper groove cover surface remaining when the liquid groove cover changes state into the substantially solid groove cover and providing a surface promoting ease of movement of debris towards and up and over the rim of the can top during wiping of the can top to clean the can top. 8. The beverage can of claim 5 wherein the fluid groove cover is selected from the group consisting of: a resin material including a hardener causing the fluid groove cover to change state to the substantially solid groove cover,a liquid material that cures via a curing technique to change state to the substantially solid groove cover,a liquid material that cures via drying to change state to the substantially solid groove cover a cooling applied to the liquid,a liquid material that cures via heating to change state to the substantially solid groove cover a cooling applied to the liquid,a liquid material that cures via cooling to change state to the substantially solid groove cover a cooling applied to the liquid,a liquid material that is applied into the groove and that hardens during rotation of the can, anda liquid material that is applied while dipping the can on an angle to allow the fluid groove cover to coat the sides of the rim of the can and a portion of the body, the groove cover settling into the groove when the can is returned to an upright position. 9. The beverage can of claim 5 wherein the fluid groove cover is selected from the group consisting of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved caulking material, an FDA approved resin material, an FDA approved epoxy, an FDA approved food-grade glue, a food-grade wax material and a liquid metal material. 10. The beverage can of claim 5 wherein the fluid groove cover has a sufficient viscosity to be sprayed onto the can top and to flow into and fill-in the entire circumference of the groove defined by the can top. 11. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein an inside edge of the upper groove cover surface resides on the upper surface of the can top at a location in between an outermost edge of the openable section of the can top and the inside edge of the upper surface of the can top that forms the inside edge of the top of the groove, the groove cover not interfering with opening the openable section of the can top. 12. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover contains an embedded antimicrobial within groove cover material to inhibit growth of microbes that come into contact with surfaces of the groove cover. 13. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is a groove ring having a diameter proportionate to a diameter of the groove defined circularly by the can top, the circular groove ring being a substantially solid material disposed into the groove to fill-in the groove defined by the can top. 14. The beverage can of claim 13 wherein the groove ring conforms to a shape of the groove defined by the surface of the can top and includes an adhesive that bonds the groove ring to the can top. 15. The beverage can of claim 13 wherein the groove ring is a material that is press fit into the groove and includes at least one appendage that interfaces with a sidewall of the can top that defines the groove to maintain the groove ring affixed to the can top before, during and after opening of the can top. 16. The beverage can of claim 13 wherein the groove ring is a material that, when heated, melts to form a liquid that flows into the groove and conforms to the shape of the groove and adheres to the surface of the can top and hardens to define an upper groove cover surface that extends from the upper surface of the can top to the inside edge of the rim of the can top to fill in the groove. 17. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover has a first end and a second end and has a groove cover length that fills-in the groove for a distance less than an entire length of the groove defined around the can top. 18. The beverage can of claim 17 wherein at least one of the first end and the second end of the groove cover define a debris pocket to trap debris that slides within portions of the groove that do not contain the groove cover during tilting of the can to pour a liquid contents of the can from the openable section in the upper surface of the can top. 19. The beverage can of claim 17 wherein a portion of the groove cover located closest to the openable section of the can top is substantially a center region along the groove cover length; and wherein the first end and second end of the groove cover extend a substantially equal distance away from the center region to respective locations within the groove defined by the can top that are beyond mouth contact regions on the can top. 20. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover remains disposed in place in the groove and affixed to the can top prior to, during, and after opening of the openable section of the can top, the groove cover providing an upper groove cover surface over which liquid dispensed from the can flows when poured from the openable section of the can. 21. The beverage can of claim 20 wherein the upper groove cover surface is at least one of: i) a substantially smooth surface that provide less turbulent effects within the liquid as the liquid flows over the upper groove cover surface as compared to a can top without a groove cover, the substantially smooth surface maintaining carbonation and fresher taste within the liquid;ii) a ribbed surface that has ribs aligned in a direction of current flow of the liquid as the liquid flows over the upper groove cover surface, the ribbed surface induce a more laminar flow into the liquid that reduces turbulent effects of the liquid to maintain carbonation within the liquid; andiii) a non-smooth surface that has protrusions that interfere with current flow of the liquid as the liquid flows over the upper groove cover surface to induce turbulent effects into the liquid to promote release of carbonation within the liquid as the liquid is poured from the beverage can. 22. The beverage can of claim 20 wherein the groove cover is contiguous groove cover material that extends up an inside edge of the rim of the can and continues over the top of the rim of the can and down an outside edge of the rim of the can, the groove cover material extending over and covering a rim groove defined at an intersection of the can top and the can body, the groove cover material having a lower edge adhered to and terminating on can body. 23. The beverage can of claim 22 wherein the contiguous groove cover material on the can body covers a mouth contact region of the can body. 24. The beverage can of claim 20 wherein the groove cover is a non-toxic material selected from the group consisting of: a groove cover including a color tint;a translucent groove cover;a color tinted translucent groove cover;a groove cover containing glow in the dark properties;a groove cover containing reflective material; anda groove cover in which a printed message is disposed within the groove cover that is visible through the groove cover;a groove cover containing an antimicrobial;a groove cover containing a flavoring;a groove cover containing a scent; anda grove cover embedded with a compound that changes color to indicate if the beverage can is cold or not in temperature; anda groove cover that has a cross section profile that provides magnification of an image within or under the groove cover. 25. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein: the can top shape that defines the groove includes inner groove sidewall and an outer groove sidewall that generally define the groove;the groove cover includes a groove insertion portion to extends downward into the groove defined in the can top in between the inner groove sidewall and the outer groove sidewall; andthe groove insertion portion includes as least one surface that interfaces to at least one of the inner groove sidewall and the outer groove sidewall to secure the groove cover to the can top. 26. The beverage can of claim 25 wherein the groove insertion portion includes as least one surface that interfaces via an adhesive to bond the groove cover to the can top. 27. The beverage can of claim 25 wherein at least one of the inner groove sidewall and the outer groove sidewall include a groove impression. 28. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is a material that provides an upper groove cover surface that extends out onto the upper surface of the can top and overlays and covers the entire upper surface of the can top as a thin layer, and wherein upon opening of the openable section of the can top, a portion of the groove cover material on the openable section of the can top is bonded to the openable section of the can top and breaks away from surrounding groove cover material and remains secured to the openable section of the can top as the openable section of the can top moves into the can body during an opening operation. 29. The beverage can of claim 28 wherein the groove cover resides under an opening tab of the can top used to open the openable section of the upper surface of the can top. 30. The beverage can of claim 28 wherein the groove cover has an outer edge that terminates along an inside wall of the rim of the can top. 31. The beverage can of claim 28 wherein the groove cover extends over a top of a rim of the can and down the outer wall of the rim of the can. 32. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is a material that provides an upper groove cover surface that extends out onto the upper surface of the can top and overlays and covers an upper surface of the can top as a thin layer excluding the openable section of the upper surface of the can top. 33. The beverage can of claim 32 wherein the groove cover material resides under an opening tab of the can top used to open the openable section of the upper surface of the can top. 34. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover material has an upper outer edge that terminates along an inside wall of the rim of the can top. 35. The beverage can of claim 32 wherein the groove cover material extends over a top of a rim of the can and down the outer wall of the rim of the can. 36. The beverage can of claim 35 wherein the groove cover material extends down past a lower edge of the outside rim of the rim of the can top and onto an outer surface of the can body. 37. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover includes a removable portion, the removable portion providing a visible message. 38. The beverage can of claim 37 wherein the visible message is not viewable when the groove cover including the removable portion is secured to the can top. 39. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover displays visible brand marketing content when the groove cover is installed on the beverage can. 40. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is formed as a liquid on the top of the beverage can that then solidifies to form a substantially solid groove cover. 41. The beverage can of claim 40 wherein the groove cover is made of an injection molded plastic. 42. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover is placed on the can top prior to seaming the can top to a can body of the beverage can. 43. The beverage can of claim 37, wherein the visible message is at least one of: A game code;A coupon for at least one product or service;A code allowing participation in a customer loyalty program. 44. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover includes a thermo-chromatic material that can change in visible appearance based on a temperature of the groove cover. 45. The beverage can of claim 1 wherein the groove cover includes a flavoring. 46. A can top for a beverage can, the can top comprising: an upper surface section that defines an openable section on the can top;a seaming edge section that extends around an outer periphery of the can top and that is operable to be seamed to an upper edge of a can housing;a groove section that connects the upper surface section of the can top to the seaming edge section of the can top, the groove section defining a groove on a topside of the can top between the upper surface section and the seaming edge section of the can top; anda groove cover disposed on the can top to cover at least a portion of the groove defined on the can top between the upper surface section and the seaming edge section of the can top, the at least a portion of the groove that is covered being a portion of the groove that is closest to the openable section defined on the upper surface of the can top and allowing the openable section to be uncovered, the groove cover providing a sloped upper surface to provide a smooth transition when wiping debris off of the can top from the upper surface of the can top and up and over a rim of the can top once the can top is seamed to a can housing, the groove cover including visible brand marketing content. 47. The can top of claim 46 wherein the groove cover includes: an upper region providing an upper groove cover surface;a lower region that resides within the groove; anda neck region coupling the upper region and the lower region; andwherein the lower region is wider in cross section distance in a direction of the radius of the can top than the neck region and an upper region, the lower region being wider to prevent removal of the groove cover within the groove on the can top. 48. The can top of claim 46 wherein the groove section includes: an inner groove sidewall that extends below an outer peripheral edge of the upper surface section of the can top and that extends towards a bottom of the groove;a outer groove sidewall that returns upwards from the bottom of the groove towards the seaming edge section of the can top; andwherein the groove cover is maintained in place in the groove by a shape of at least one of the inner groove sidewall and the outer groove sidewall. 49. The can top of claim 46 wherein the groove cover is maintained in place in the groove by an adhesive that adheres the groove cover to an upper outer surface of the groove section. 50. The can top of claim 46 wherein the groove cover is made of a material that adheres to at least one surface of the groove section of the can top. 51. The can top of claim 46 where the groove section comprises: at least one groove cover recess providing an indented impression into at least one sidewall of the groove section, the at least one groove cover recess operable to receive a corresponding groove cover appendage that extends from the groove cover into the groove cover recess to affix and hold the groove cover in place on the can top. 52. The can top of claim 51 wherein the at least one groove cover recess are a plurality of impressions, each impression having a length and having a depth that is indented radially inward toward the center of the can top, the plurality of impressions being spaced at intervals around the inner groove sidewall that extends below an outer peripheral edge of the upper surface section of the can top towards a bottom of the groove, each impression operable to receive a corresponding groove cover appendage coupled to the groove cover to secure the groove cover to the can top. 53. The can top of claim 51 wherein the at least one groove cover recess are a plurality of groove cover recesses that are indented impressions spaced at intervals around an outer groove sidewall that returns upwards from the bottom of the groove towards the seaming edge section of the can top, each groove cover recess operable to receive a groove cover appendage to secure the groove cover to the can top. 54. The can top of claim 51 wherein the groove cover includes: a upper groove cover surface section that, when in place on the can top, covers and spans a gap formed by the groove between the upper surface section of the can top and the seaming edge section of the can top;a grove insertion section the extends downwards from the upper grove surface section into the grove; andat least one groove appendage that extends from the groove insertion section to interface with at least one corresponding groove cover recess to hold the groove cover in place on the can top. 55. The can top of claim 54 wherein the at least one groove appendage is a deflectable tab that can be deflected towards the groove insertion section upon insertion of the groove cover into the groove to allow press fit placement of the groove cover into the groove, and upon final positioning of the groove cover into the groove, the deflectable tab returning to a less deflected position and having a tab end that remains inserted within a corresponding groove cover recess upon full placement into the groove to maintain the groove cover affixed to the can top and prevent removal of the groove cover. 56. The can top of claim 54 wherein: the groove cover includes a semi-flexible upper inner edge and a semi-flexible upper outer edge;and wherein upon insertion of the groove cover into the groove section of the can top, at least one of the upper inner edge and the upper outer edge are deflected slightly against the can top, the deflection providing a counterforce on a surface of the can top that provides an uplifting force on the groove cover, said uplifting force being counteracted by the at least one groove appendage that interfaces with that at least one corresponding groove cover recess to prevent the uplifting force from lifting the groove cover from the groove section of the can top; andwherein the at least one of the upper inner edge and upper outer edge of the groove cover provides a tight seal on the surface of the can top. 57. The can top of claim 46 wherein the groove cover includes a removable portion, the removable portion including a visible message on an underside of the removable portion, the visible message not viewable when the groove cover is installed on the can top prior to removal of the removable portion. 58. The can top of claim 46 wherein the groove cover includes an antimicrobial to inhibit growth of microbes on the surface of the groove cover. 59. A can top for a beverage can comprising: an upper surface section that defines an openable section on the can top;a seaming edge section that extends around an outer periphery of the can top and that is operable to be seamed to an upper edge of a can housing;a groove section that connects the upper surface section of the can top to the seaming edge section of the can top, the groove section defining a countersink groove depression between the upper surface section and the seaming edge section of the can top; anda groove cover disposed on the can top in between the upper surface section and the seaming edge section and providing an upper surface that slopes upwards from the upper surface section towards the seaming edge section of the can top to prevent collection of debris within the countersink groove and to assist in wiping the debris up and over the top of a rim formed by the seaming edge section after the can top is seamed to a beverage can. 60. The can top of claim 59 wherein the groove cover is adhered into the countersink groove by a mechanical interlocking of the groove cover and the countersink groove. 61. The can top of claim 59 wherein the groove cover is adhered into the countersink groove by a bonding between the groove cover and a surface of the countersink groove. 62. The can top of claim 59 wherein the groove cover includes visible brand marketing content. 63. The can top of claim 62 wherein the upper groove cover surface has a concave sloped curvature profile. 64. The can top of claim 63 wherein the upper groove cover surface has an outer edge that provides a substantially smooth transition between the outer edge and an inside edge surface of an inside sidewall of a rim of the can top once the seaming edge section is seamed to a can housing; and wherein the upper groove cover surface has inner edge that provides a substantially smooth transition between the inner edge and the upper surface section of the can top. 65. The can top of claim 59 wherein the groove cover includes a removable portion. 66. The can top of claim 59 wherein the groove cover is made of a biodegradable material. 67. The can top of claim 59 wherein the groove cover includes an antimicrobial compound to inhibit growth of microbes on the surface of the groove cover.
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