Letter 29009

Questions on coatings applied to aluminum beverage cans  

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I am a patent attorney that is working with an inventor that needs to know the process of creating an "aluminum" beverage can container with a logo, such as for use in containing carbonated liquids such as a common everyday soda or pop can, that contains a logo or painted on insignia on its side. More specifically, what I need to find out is what is the paint and/or other coating material used to create the logos on the sides of popular supermarket soda cans. Is it a paint, a laquer, a clear coat, something else etc.? And what is the process of application of this logo to the metal? Is there a clear cost applied to the entire can, or is the top raw metal with no applied surface cooting? Is the logo applied before the can top is attached to the can or after? Are there some common terms that describe this overall process? Is there a special coating (e.g., a special type of paint) that has a common genreal name that meets FDA approval for use in providing the logo and that is obviously non-toxic and not harmful to humans when they drink form the can? Are there many different coatings (names?) and methods to apply such coatings that will complying with FDA regulations for use on metal food or beverage containers? Any help and/or suggestions where to look to find such general information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Barry Chapin
Patent Attorney - Westborough, Massachusetts

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