Easy opening can end with embossed panel

Abstract

A can end is provided which has a circular score in it defining a removable panel, a rigid pull tab attached to the removable panel adjacent the score line, and an X-shaped embossment in the removable panel to control bending of the panel during removal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to easy opening can ends, and in particular to a can end having means therein to facilitate severance of a removable panel from the can end.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to provide reinforcement means such as ribs and/or embossments in a removable panel in a can end to either control or prevent bending of the panel during opening as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,430,802; 3,478,918; 3,591,037 and 3,653,536 among others. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,171 discloses a rectangular embossment in the center of a rectangular removable panel and arcuate indentations adjacent each corner of the embossment to reduce flexure of the panel portion. U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,916 is also of interest for its disclosure of a relatively large V-shaped embossment in a circular removable panel.

The prior art is lacking in the disclosure of means in a circular full, pull-out removable panel for obviating the necessity to hold the center of the panel down with the thumb or the like during removal of the panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an easy opening can end having a circular score defining a removable panel, a rigid pull tab attached to the removable panel, and an X-shaped embossment in the removable panel to control bending of the panel during removal thereof.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide means in a removable panel for controlling bending of the panel during opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can end having a removable panel with an X-shaped embossment therein to obviate the need to hold the center of the panel down during removal thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more fully understood and appreciated with reference to the following description and the drawings appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a can end of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the can end of FIG. 1 secured on a can,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating initiation of opening of a can end of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating initiation of opening of a can end of the invention, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating completion of opening of a can end of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a metal can end 10 of the invention which is preferably made of aluminum or an alloy thereof, and which has been seamed on a can body 12 by conventional methods. Can end 10 includes a raised peripheral flange 16 therearound which has been seamed onto the can body, a score line 18 defining a circular removable panel 20 and a rigid pull tab 22 attached by means of an integral rivet 24 to the removable panel adjacent the score line. Can end 10 may further include an anti-fracture score, not shown, which runs parallel to score line 18 as is well known in the art.

In accordance with this invention, removable panel 20 in can end 10 includes an X-shaped embossment 26 located centrally in the panel to control bending thereof during severance of the panel from the can end. A square finger well 30 may be located in the center of the embossment to facilitate gripping of tab 20 and to further reinforce the panel. In the embodiment selected for illustration, embossment 26 is formed downwardly in removable panel 20 or toward the inside of can 12, but it can also be formed upwardly in the panel if desired. Legs 28 of embossment 26 preferably extend radially outwardly from the corners of finger well 30 to within relatively close proximity of score line 18 around removable panel 20. Legs 28 preferably have approximately 90.degree. included angles therebetween, but this is not considered to be critical.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a diametrical line drawn through rivet attachment 24 bisects the included angle between legs 28 of embossment 26 so that the two legs of the embossment adjacent rivet 24 diverge outwardly along opposite sides or the rivet. In can end 10, this means that the center line or longitudinal axis of tab 22 also bisects the included angle between the legs of the embossment, but other orientations of the tab will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, there are other tabs which could be used on a can end of the invention which are attached to can end in biased orientation with respect to the peripheral edge of the can end. With such tabs, the longitudinal axis of the tab would not bisect the included angle between legs 28 of embossment 26.

To open a can end of the invention, the handle end of tab 22 is first lifted to depress the portion of removable panel 20 which underlies the nose end of the tab and thereby rupture score line 18 adjacent the rivet attachment. When tab 22 is so lifted, a bend line 38 is formed in removable panel 20 across the panel behind rivet 22 which results in a down-turned flange 32 on the removable panel as is illustrated in FIG. 3. Flange 32 provides stiffening to removable panel 20 as tab 22 is further pulled to progressively rupture the score line 18 around both sides of removable panel 20.

When tab 22 on can end 10 is pulled to rupture score line 18 around the remainder of removable panel 20, it is not necessary to hold the center of the panel down as has been required with most prior art can ends. If downward pressure were not applied against the center of such heretofore known can ends, the removable panels frequently domed upwardly placing the score line in tension rather than in shear as is desired for easy rupture of the score. Some prior art can ends have included reinforcing means therein such as ribs or the like to help prevent doming of the can end while permitting the removable panel to bend along lines transverse to the center line of the tab, but such reinforcing means have not been totally effective.

When tab 22 on can end 10 having an X-shaped embossment 26 in its removable panel 20 is pulled, a triangular-shaped lever section 36 is formed between depressed flange 32 and legs 28 of embossment 26 and such lever section is fulcrumed or pivoted about a point 34 near the center of the removable panel 20. This pivoting of triangular-shaped lever 36 about the center of the panel progressively lifts the starting end of removable panel 20 to progressively shear score 18 in opposite directions along both sides of the removable panel. Such pivoting or fulcruming of the starting portion of the removable panel greatly facilitates severence of score line 18 and obviates any need to depress the center of the panel during such opening. After opening has been initiated by rupturing score 18 around the starting end of removable panel 20, tab 22 can be further pulled to complete rupture of the score around the complete circumference of the removable panel, as is illustrated in FIG. 5, to separate the panel from the can end and can.

From the above description and the drawings appended hereto, it is seen that this invention provides a can end with means for facilitating rupture of the score around a removable panel in the can end by controlling bending of the panel. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been selected for illustration and description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art the numerous modifications can be made in the can end without departing from the invention and the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In an easy opening can end having a circular score line therein defining a removable panel and a substantially rigid pull tab attached to the removable panel adjacent the score line, the improvement comprising an X-shaped embossment substantially centered in the removable panel and the centerline of the tab substantially bisecting the included angle between two legs of the embossment.

2. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 1 in which a downwardly embossed finger well is located in the center of said embossment.

3. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 2 in which said finger is substantially square and the legs of the embossment extend radially from the corners of the finger well.

4. An easy opening can end having a circular score line defining a removable panel and a tab attached to the removable panel near the score line, and further having an X-shaped embossment substantially centered in the removable panel and oriented so that a diametrical line drawn through the means for attaching the pull tab to the removable panel bisects the included angle between two legs of the embossment.

5. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 4 in which said tab is substantially rigid.

6. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 4 in which the legs of said embossment have included angles of approximately 90.degree.therebetween.

7. An easy opening can end as set forth in claim 4 in which the legs of the embossment extend outwardly to within close proximity of said score line.

8. An easy opening end as set forth in claim 4 in which said embossment is formed downward in the end.