Empty beverage can carrier

Claim 2

A carrier and storage device for empty beverage cans comprising: a substantially planar body of rigid material having two opposite, flat sides; a plurality of elastically deformable, spaced projections integral with and extending horizontally from each of said sides; each of said projections being insertable into the opening of an empty beverage can whereby said can is temporarily secured to the body by the compression of the projection as it passes through the opening followed by expansion of the projection after insertion.

Claim 3

A carrier as defined in claim 1 further including a hanger means extending from an edge of the planar body and at right angles thereto for supporting the carrier in a vertical orientation against a surface such as a wall.

Claim 4

A carrier and storage device as described in claim 1 made of molded plastic.

Claim 5

A carrier and storage device as described in claim 2, said planar body being rectangular in shape with rounded corners on the side opposite the wall for safety.

Claim 6

A carrier and storage device as described in claim 3, said projections being substantially in the shape of an arrowhead having: a length on the order of one inch and, an angular leading surface for guiding a can opening over the projection and to act as a cam to pinch the projection during engagement; a shoulder point wider than a beverage can opening at the end of the angular leading surface for retaining the beverage can; a concave tapered surface from the shoulder point to the point at which the projection is connected to the planar body to act as a cam to pinch the projection during disengagement of said can with the projection; and a vertical slot through the center of the projection from the tip of the projection to the planar body for facilitating the compression of the projection.

Claim 7

A carrier and storage device as described in claim 5, said projections being arranged in a two by six rectangular matrix on both sides of the planar body, with the distance between the centers of said projections being at least the diameter of a conventional beverage can.

Claim 8

A carrier and storage device as described in claim 6, said hanger means in the shape of a ring extending upward from the wall side of the planar body, the plane of the ring being vertical and perpendicular to the planar body.