Today in 2010, just five years ago, US Patent 20100000997 A1 was issued, an invention of Erik L. Southers, for a “Double-Ended Openers Beverage Can.” Here’s the Abstract:
The invention relates to a beverage can with an opener at each end allowing the user to drink from the first end while opening the second end which results in the liquid rapidly evacuating the beverage can. The beverage can is particularly useful for chug-a-lugging beer.
I suppose there must be subtle differences, but I don’t see what is different between this two tab can patent and the one posted on January 6 that was issued one year later.
I have the feeling the market for two opening ends on beer cans is rather limited. I will have to wait to see if this product ever hits the market.
Whoever patented that is probably too young to remember that youngstas in the 60’s & 70’s referred to that methodology as “torpedoing” (using a churchkey to pop the bottom first – easy on the old flat-bottomed cans; a little different w/the convex bottom in use now – one has to punch out a hole in the side, as the underside is the only spot the churchkey can grip on).
But Glass for Can is right – what sensible mega-brewery would want to invest in such fad technology?