U.S. patent number 3,653,535 [Application Number 05/091,255] was granted by the patent office on 1972-04-04 for retainable tear-away tab for container.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Envir-O-Tab, Inc.. Invention is credited to Russell W. Brown.
United States Patent |
3,653,535 |
Brown |
April 4, 1972 |
RETAINABLE TEAR-AWAY TAB FOR CONTAINER
Abstract
This disclosure relates to a tear-away tab or closure for cans,
in which, the tear-away closure is retained on the can. The top of
the can is formed with a tab defined by a scored segment extending
radially from approximately the center of the top to the rim of the
can. A stem overlying the tab is secured to the inner end of the
tab and extends along the tab towards the rim of the can. A pulling
ring overlies the stem and is secured to the outer end of the stem.
The can is opened by lifting the ring upwardly and pulling the stem
to a generally vertical position over the inner end of the tab,
then forcing the stem and ring downwardly so that the tab will
break away from the can top along the scored edges to form the
opening in the can. The outer end of the tab is not scored, and
thus remains attached to the top when the can is opened.
Inventors: |
Brown; Russell W. (Witchita,
KS) |
Assignee: |
Envir-O-Tab, Inc. (Witchita,
KS)
|
Family
ID: |
22226824 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/091,255 |
Filed: |
November 20, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
17/4012 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65d 017/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/54,48,27 ;222/541
;215/46A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tear-away tab device within a container wall for providing an
opening in said container wall comprising:
a. tab means in said container wall adapted to be partially severed
from said container wall, thereby forming said opening in said
container wall;
b. stem means secured to said tab means and adapted to apply
pressure to said tab means to sever said tab means from said
container wall and force said tab means into the container; and
c. handle means secured to said stem means for manipulating said
stem means to apply pressure on said tab means.
2. The tear-away tab device of claim 1, wherein said tab means is a
closure strip defined by a scored line which partially encloses
said closure strip and a bend line between the ends of said scored
line, said closure strip can be severed from said container wall
along said scored line while remaining attached to said container
wall along said bend line.
3. The tear-away tab device of claim 1, wherein said stem means is
an elongated member which overlies said tab means and which can be
manipulated by an initial upward and subsequent downward force
applied to said handle means so that said tab means is severed from
said container wall and forced into said container.
4. The tear-away tab device of claim 1, wherein said handle means
is a pull ring which overlies both said tab and stem means, said
pull ring being adapted to manipulate said stem in order to force
said tab means into said container upon an initial upward and
subsequent downward force being applied to said pull ring.
5. The tear-away tab device of claim 2, wherein said stem means is
an elongated member which overlies said closure strip and which can
be manipulated by an initial upward and subsequent downward force
applied to said handle means so that said closure strip is severed
from said container wall and forced into said container.
6. The tear-away strip of claim 5, wherein said handle means is a
pull ring which overlies both said closure strip and said elongated
member, said pull ring being adapted to manipulate said stem in
order to force said closure strip into said container upon an
initial upward and subsequent downward force being applied to said
pull ring.
7. The tear-away strip of claim 1, wherein said stem means is an
elongated member overlying said tab means, said elongated member
having a first crease line dividing said member into a first and
second portion, said first portion being secured to said handle
means, said second portion being secured to said tab means so that
said elongated member applies pressure to said tab means and severs
the tab means from said container wall and forces said tab inwardly
when said elongated member is bent along said first crease line so
that said second portion of said elongated member is rotated to a
vertical position by applying an initial upward force and
subsequent downward force to said handle means.
8. The tear away tab device of claim 7, wherein said handle means
is a pull ring overlying both said tab means and said elongated
member, said pulling ring having a base portion divided into a
first and second section by a second crease line, said first
section being secured to said elongated member and said second
section being integrally formed with a finger ring, said second
section and said finger ring being adapted to pivot upwardly with
respect to said first section about said second crease line when
said upward force is applied to said pull ring.
9. The tear-away tab device of claim 2, wherein said stem means is
an elongated member overlying said closure strip, said elongated
member having a first crease line dividing said member into a first
and second portion, said first portion, said first portion being
secured to said handle means, said second portion being secured to
said closure strip so that said elongated member applies pressure
to said closure strip and severs said closure strip from said
container wall and forces said closure strip inwardly when said
elongated member is bent along said first crease line so that said
second portion of said elongated member is rotated to a vertical
position by applying an initial upward force and subsequent
downward force to said handle means.
10. The tear-away tab device of claim, 9 wherein said handle means
is a pull ring overlying both said closure strip and said elongated
member, said pulling ring having a base portion divided into a
first and second section by a second crease line, said first
section being secured to said elongated member and said second
section being integrally formed with a finger ring, said second
section and said finger ring being adapted to pivot upwardly with
respect to said first section about said second crease line when
said upward force is applied to said pull ring.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a pull tear-away tab or closure for a
can, and more particularly to a tear-away tab which will remain
attached to the can top after the can is opened.
Presently, many different types of beverages such as beer,
carbonated soft drinks, etc., are being sold in cans having tab
openers or more commonly called "pop top" cans. Although these cans
are extremely convenient for outdoor activities such as picnics and
the like, they are a source of growing concern to the ecologist.
Most of the concern, however, has been directed to the disposable
can itself, but little attention has been focused on the other
pollution problems which the discarded tear-away tab causes. Even
if the user has the foresight to dispose of the can in a trash
receptacle, very few will take the time to find a receptacle in
which to discard a small tear-away tab. These tabs can be found
littering most of the outdoor recreational areas, and they are just
as much an "eye sore" as the disposable can. The ever increasing
use of aluminum in the making of disposable cans by the beverage
industry has pyramided this problem since aluminum will not oxidize
or decompose easily.
Besides littering the picnic grounds, other environmental problems
are caused by the discarded tear-away tabs. For example, many tabs
are discarded in lakes, rivers, etc., by people using the
recreational water facilities for boating and fishing, or other
water sports, and it has been found that many times fish will
strike at a tab as it settles to the bottom of the body of water.
If the fish swallows the tab, serious internal injury usually
results, and the fish dies. The discarded tabs also produce a
safety hazard, in that, severe lacerations may be inflicted when a
person without shoes steps on one of the tabs.
Several attempts have been made to alleviate the problem mentioned
above by making pop top cans with tabs which cannot be detached
from the can top, examples being found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,326,406
to Brown and U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,042 to Stolle. Both of these
patents eliminate the problem of the discarded tabs, but they
produce other problems such as exposing the user to the sharp edges
of the tab since the tabs are generally torn outwardly and retained
on the can top, tooling and manufacturing difficulties, and the
like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a means
for retaining a tear-away tab on a can top which will prevent the
tab from being discarded and thereby reduce environmental
pollution.
Another object of this invention is to provide a retaining means
which will position the tab in a location which is away from the
can top in order to eliminate all of the sharp edges which might
cause injuries to the user.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a pull tab
which can be retained on the can top that is easy and economical to
manufacture.
These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention
through the use of a pull tab opener for the top of a can which is
defined by a scored segment that is adapted to be pressed
downwardly into the can to form a desired opening. The scored
segment, or tab, remains attached to the can adjacent to the rim
thereof so that it cannot be removed or discarded. A pull ring is
attached to the tab by means of a stem, the stem being connected
near the inner edge of the tab. The stem overlies the tab with its
free end extending toward the can rim where it is attached to the
pull ring which, in turn, overlies the stem and the tab. To open
the can, the ring is lifted upwardly, pulling the stem into a
generally vertical position over the inner end of the tab. The stem
and ring are then pressed downwardly causing the tab to tear away
from the can top along the scored lines from the center towards the
rim of the can and be forced down into the can. The ring is forced
downwardly to a position flush with the surface of the can top, and
although the ring, stem and tab remain attached to the can, they
are conveniently positioned so as not to interfere with the normal
use of the can.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a portion of a plan view of a can showing a portion of a
can top having a pull top opener according to the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross section view as taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross section view of a portion of the can shown in
FIG. 1, illustrating the initial stage in the sequence for severing
the tab from the can top according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the portion of the can top shown
in FIG. 1 illustrating the second step in the sequence for severing
the pull tab from the can top;
FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the portion of the can top shown
in FIG. 1, illustrating the third step in the sequence for severing
the pull tab from the can top;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the portion of a can top having a pull tab
opener of the present invention wherein the tab has been severed
from the can top and illustrates the final step in the sequence for
opening the can;
FIG. 7 is a cross section view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 6;
and
FIG. 8 is a section view of the portion of the can top illustrating
the final position of the tab opener in an alternative
location.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring more particularly to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
numeral 10 indicates a partial section of a beverage can top having
a pull tab opener 12 device formed therein. The pull tab opener has
parallel scored lines or grooves 14 and 16 extending from the rim
18 of the can. The parallel scored lines 14 and 16 continue as
converging scored lines 20 and 22 towards the center of the can
top. Prior to the geometrical intersection of the converging lines
20 and 22, a rounded scored segment 24 joins the converging scored
lines 20 and 22. The parallel scored lines 14 and 16, converging
scored lines 20 and 22 and rounded scored segment 24 define a
scored segment, tab, or partially enclosed closure strip 26 which
also defines the outline of the opening which will be formed in the
can top when the tab 26 is severed from the can top 10. The outer
end 28 of the tab 26 near rim 18 is not scored and defines a bend
line, thus this end portion of the closure strip 26 remains
attached to the can top 10 when the remaining portion of the tab 26
is disconnected or severed from the can top 10 along scored lines
14, 16, 20, 22 and 24.
A stem 30 overlies the tab 26 (see FIG. 2) and is secured by spot
welding or other suitable means to the tab 26 near the inner end of
the tab contiguous to the scored round segment 24, as can be seen
in FIG. 1. The stem 30 extends outwardly towards the rim 18 and is
parallel and centered between the scored lines 14 and 16 of tab 26.
The outer end 36 of stem 30 is spot welded to the underside of a
generally trapezoidal member or base portion 38 of a pull ring or
handle 40. The pull ring 40 extends from the rim of the can towards
the center portion of the can top and overlies the stem. The inner
end of the pull ring 40 is a finger ring 42 which is formed
integrally with the trapezoidal member 38. The ring tab 40 has a
crease line 44 across the trapezoidal member 38 which permits the
finger ring 42 and inner section 45 of the trapezoidal member 38 to
be bent or pivoted upwardly with respect to the outer section 46 of
the trapezoidal member 38 when the pull ring 40 is lifted.
At the outer end 36 of stem or elongated rod 30, there is another
crease line 48 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) adjacent to the connection joint
between the stem 30 and pull ring 40. The crease line 48 permits
the outer portion 52 of stem 30 to remain horizontal and parallel
with respect to the outer section 46 of the pull ring 40 while the
inner portion 54 (see FIG. 4) of stem 30 is bent or pivoted to a
vertical position when the pull ring 40 is lifted and pulled
towards the inner end of the tab 26.
Turning now to the procedure for opening the pull tab opener
device, FIG. 2 illustrates the initial position of the tab opener
device prior to lifting of the pull ring 40. In FIG. 3, the pull
ring is lifted upwardly, thereby permitting the pull ring 40 to be
pivoted upwardly along crease line 44 so that the ring portion 42
is disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the outer
portion 46 of the trapezoidal member 38.
Continuing with the opening operation in FIG. 4, pull ring 40 is
moved initially upwardly and inwardly with respect to the center of
can top 10 so that the inner portion 54 of stem 30 will be forced
downwardly and thus the stem will be creased along line 48. The
downward pressure applied to the inner end of tab 26 by the
downward movement of the inner end 54 of stem 30 causes the tab 26
to be severed or torn away from top 10 along scored lines beginning
with the rounded scored segment 24.
As the inner end 54 of the stem is pivoted to a vertical position
as shown in FIG. 5, the tab 26 is severed progressively along
converging scored lines 20 and 22. When the inner portion 54 of
stem 30 is in the vertical position, a subsequent downward force on
the pull ring 40 applies pressure through stem 30 to tab 26 so that
it is progressively severed from the can top along parallel scored
lines 14 and 16. After the stem is forced downwardly into the can,
the trapezoidal member 38 of pull ring 40 is in contact with the
can top 10 on each side of a tab opening 60 as seen in FIG. 6. The
inner section 45 of the trapezoidal member 38 and the finger ring
42 are pushed downwardly into contact with the upper surface of can
top 10 as seen in FIG. 7 so that they are conveniently positioned
and do not interfere with the normal use of the can. The tab
segment 26 remains connected to the can top 10 along outer edge 28,
therefore the pull tab opener cannot be removed or discarded.
FIG. 8 illustrates a second method of positioning the pull ring
upon opening the can. After the stem is forced downwardly into the
can so that the outer portion 46 of the trapezoidal member 38 on
pull ring 40 engages the can top 10, the pull ring 40 is pulled
inwardly so that stem 30 will contact the edge of opening 60
defined by the rounded portion 24 of the scored segment. The stem
30 is pivoted away from the vertical position and the opening 60 is
increased in size.
It should be understood that the drawings only illustrate the
principle of operation and the major components used to accomplish
the invention and the particular shape and size of the tab segment,
the pull ring is not significant and may be varied in any desired
manner.
It can be seen from the above description and drawings that this
invention provides a device in which the pull tab opener would be
retained on the can and the sharp edges of the tab will be
positioned remotely to the outside surface of the can so that they
will not injure the user. The device also permits for easy tooling
and manufacturing and will be very economical.
The above embodiment can be modified in numerous ways as will be
apparent from the foregoing. For example, the configuration of the
tab and the ring puller can be varied while any appropriate means
may be used to secure the stem to the tab and the pull ring.
However, these and other variations and changes can be made in the
invention as above described and illustrated without departing from
the true spirit and scope thereof as defined in the following
claims.
* * * * *