U.S. patent number 3,744,662 [Application Number 05/201,405] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-10 for opening device with non-detachable tab.
This patent grant is currently assigned to National Can Corporation. Invention is credited to Arthur P. Zundel.
United States Patent |
3,744,662 |
Zundel |
July 10, 1973 |
OPENING DEVICE WITH NON-DETACHABLE TAB
Abstract
The improvement in an easy opening type of container of a
container end with an opening device having a non-detachable tab
and made of a material such as certain resilient plastics, and
having a lip portion airtightly connected to the container end with
apertures in the lip portion and the container end aligned, a
removable portion connected to the lip portion by a hinge at the
inner ends of the two portions, the removable portion also being
airtightly bonded over the apertures in the lip portion, and a pull
tab with a grip adjacent the inner end and tab extension means
connecting the pull tab to the removable portion adjacent its outer
end. A preferred embodiment is reclosable by reattachment of the
removable portion to the lip portion.
Inventors: |
Zundel; Arthur P. (Chicago,
IL) |
Assignee: |
National Can Corporation
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
22745689 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/201,405 |
Filed: |
November 23, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/269; 222/543;
222/481; 220/834 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
17/506 (20130101); B65D 17/28 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
17/00 (20060101); B65d 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/27,6R,38,5,44R
;222/478,481,482,543,545 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rothberg; Samuel B.
Assistant Examiner: Garrett; James R.
Claims
I claim:
1. In an easy opening container, of the type having side walls and
a container end wall joined in a seam, such container end wall
being provided with aperture means therethrough for drinking or
pouring, such aperture means having one peripheral edge portion
near said seam and another peripheral edge portion near the center
portion of said container end wall, the improvement comprising:
a lip portion airtightly connected to said container end, said lip
portion defining lip aperture means corresponding to said container
aperture means and aligned therewith;
a removable lip aperture means closure portion airtightly connected
by bond means to said lip portion about the periphery of said lip
aperture means;
a hinge means connecting said removable closure portion to said lip
portion adjacent said center portion of the container end wall;
a pull tab having a pull tab grip adjacent said hinge means and
having tab extension means connecting said pull tab grip to said
removable closure portion adjacent the peripheral edge portion
thereof nearest the said seam.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tab extension means
comprises two legs extending from said tab grip and encircling said
removable portion substantially on the same level therewith.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tab extension means is
integral with said removable portion.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hinge means is integral
with said removable portion and said lip portion.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tab extension means is
integral with said removable portion.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hinge means is integral
with said removable portion and said lip portion.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said bond means is integral
with said lip portion and said removable portion.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said container end and said lip
portion define a single aperture.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said container end and said lip
portion define a plurality of apertures.
10. In an easy opening container, of the type having side walls and
a container end wall joined in a seam, said container end wall
being provided with aperture means therethrough for drinking or
pouring, such aperture means having one peripheral edge portion
near said seam and another peripheral edge portion near the center
portion of said container end wall, the improvement comprising:
said end wall defining two container apertures generally off-center
of said end wall and radially aligned;
a resilient lip portion airtightly connected to said container end
and having a top surface above and adjacent to said container end
wall, said lip portion defining two apertures corresponding to said
container apertures and aligned therewith, said top surface
including edges about each of said lip portion apertures, said lip
portion further defining snap grooves about each of said lip
portion apertures below said top surface such that said lip portion
apertures are larger below said top surface than at said top
surface;
a substantially planar resilient removable portion having two plugs
on one surface thereof, said plugs corresponding to said lip
portion apertures and having circumferential bead portions
complementary to and airtightly engageable with said snap grooves
such that said removable portion may reclose said lip portion
apertures after the first opening of said removable portion;
bond means airtightly connecting said removable portion to the
edges defining said lip portion apertures;
hinge means connecting said removable portion to said lip portion
adjacent said other peripheral edge portion;
a pull tab having a pull tab grip adjacent said hinge means and
having tab extension means connecting said pull tab grip to said
removable closure portion adjacent the peripheral edge thereof
nearest said seam.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pull tab extension means
comprises two legs extending from said tab grip and encircling said
removable portion substantially on the same level therewith.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said tab extension means is
integral with said removable portion.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said hinge means is integral
with said removable portion and said lip portion.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said tab extension means is
integral with said removable portion.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said hinge means is integral
with said removable portion and said lip portion.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said bond means connect said
plugs to said edges of said lip portion apertures.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said bond means is integral
with said lip portion and said removable portion.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said lip portion is connected
to said container end by means of locking grooves in said lip
portion which grip said container end about said two container
apertures.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said two lip portion
apertures consist of a flow aperture farthest off-center and a
smaller vent aperture near the center of said container end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to an improvement in easy opening
containers. In particular, it pertains to the pop-open member which
is a part of the container end. Pop-open containers, such as are
widely used for beer, soft drink and other beverages, have gained
extreme popularity becuase of the convenience which they afford the
consumer. Indeed, in this country use of the old "church key" type
of opener is nearly a thing of the past.
Numerous improvements and variations have been made in the pop-open
type of container and it seems apparent that in some form they are
here to stay. However, some serious problems still exist, and this
invention is directed to solving such problems.
In the most common type of easy opening container end, a portion of
the metal end defined by score lines is removed upon application of
a pulling force exerted through a pull tab attached to the scored
section. After opening, the pull tab and attached scored section
are completely detached from the remainder of the can. Some
carelesss consumers often discard the tabs on the ground wherever
they happen to be, even though they are careful to discard the main
portion of the container in a trash barrel. In the past, numerous
attempts have been made to produce a satisfactory opening device
which is entirely non-detachable from the remainder of the
container. However, because of numerous problems and certain
requirements which must be met such attempts have resulted in
either outright failure or the creation of some device which is
impractical to put into production.
One of the difficulties in developing an opening device which is
non-detachable arises becuase of the wide spread practice of
drinking directly from a beverage container. Thus, it is required
that no material interfere with the flow of beverage during
drinking. It is also required that there be no protrusions from the
container which would interfere with the drinking process or the
nose or face of the drinker.
Another limiting factor is that protrusions extending over the seam
of the can cannot be tolerated as these would interfere with the
normal can making procedures, with the filling procedures and even
with the packaging procedures. Yet another factor for consideration
is the thickness of any opening device mounted in a container end,
that is, its height above the metal surface of the end. If the
opening device, when unopened, would extend beyond the top of the
container seam, numerous problems would arise in can making,
filling and packaging. Further, to increase the height of the seam
has tremendous undesirable cost repercussions involving the amount
and method of metal usage as well as other factors in manufacture
of the can end. Therefore, it is highly desirable to have an
opening device which does not extend beyond the top of the
seam.
In particular, problems encountered in developing a non-detachable
tab arise because the pull tab must normally be attached to the
removable portion near the center of the can in order to provide
space for the tab and proper leverage to start the opening. If
attached to the outer end adjacent to the seam, the pull tab would
either overlap the seam thus violating one of the aforementioned
requirements or would lie over the potential opening in a manner
rendering the opening operation most difficult or impossible.
Since the pull tab from a practical standpoint must be near the
inner end of the potential opening, that is, near the center of the
can, the logical way to make the tab and removable portion
non-detachable would be to hinge the removable portion to the
container at the outer end. However, to do this would interfere
with the drinking or pouring operation and thus violate another of
the aforementioned requirements. Numerous other variations of these
problems arise and the number and variety of devices contrived in
attempting to solve these problems attest to the difficulty.
Another problem prevalent in the most common type of easy opening
container is the breaking off of pull tabs from the container end
without having completed the opening of the container. In some
cases, the rivet will break or the scored portion will break
adjacent the rivet from excessive bending in a futile attempt to
tear the end along the score lines, thus rendering the tab detached
and non-effective.
A problem to which a specific preferred embodiment of my invention
is directed is the threat of injury to the upper lip of a consumer
drinking directly from the can which is posed by the bare and
occasionally sharp metal edge which is exposed in the common type
of easy opening container.
A further problem to which a specific preferred embodiment of my
invention is directed is the storage of beverage in opened, but
unfinished containers. Because of the absence of adequate
reclosures, the contained beverage spoils during storage. A
preferred embodiment of my invetion incorporates apparatus which is
the result of another invention and is the subject of a co-pending
patent application filed concurrently herewith.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
My invention provides an easy opening type of container which
successfully overcomes these problems. The inventive device
described in detail hereinafter has a lip portion attached to the
container end and a removable portion covering the apertures in the
lip portion and hinged to the lip portion at the inner end thereof,
that is, the end away from the container seam. A pull tab is also
located adjacent the inner end but is connected to the removable
portion by tab extension means connected to the removable portion
at the outer end thereof.
After the removable portion is torn away from the lip portion, the
removable portion and the attached tab including the tab extension
means can lie flat on the container end and be away from the
drinking area. Therefore, this device does not interfere with
beverage flow nor does it interfere with the drinking process or
the face of the drinker. Further, since the pull tab is near the
center of the container end rather than near the seam, it does not
overlap the seam such that there is interference in the can making
process, the filling process or the packaging of filled cans. The
device of using tab extension means further allows finger
maneuverability and leverage such that the container may be opened
with ease.
My invention may be used without the opening device extending above
the upper edge of the can seam. Thus, the related aforementioned
problems may be avoided. In particular, the tab extension means may
be two legs extending from the grip of the pull tab and encirling
the removable portion to attach thereto at the outer end. Using
this configuration, no height is added to the opening device.
The problems of sharp bare metal edges and storage of beverage in
opened, but unfinished, containers are overcome in specific
preferred embodiments of my invention which provide a reclosure
device in which a resilient removable portion may be reclosably
attached to a resilient lip portion mounted about aperture means in
a container end. Further, the problem of the breaking off of pull
tabs from the container is also overcome since there is no
requirement to tear out a scored metal section and since a riveted
tab can be eliminated.
Another specific advantage of my invention resides in the possible
ease of production by the can maker. The opening devices may be
molded in one piece and simply pressed into apertures in the metal
ends of containers. Thus, numerous steps including scoring and
riveting may be by-passed.
Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an easy
opening container overcoming the aforementioned problems.
It is another object of my invention to provide a container of the
easy opening type having a non-detachable tab.
It is a further object of my invention to provide an easy opening
container having a non-detachable tab which is practical from a
production standpoint and feasible in operation.
It is yet a further object of my invention to provide an easy
opening container having an opening device with a non-detachable
tab and removable portion which does not interfee with beverage
flow or with drinking or the face of a drinker who is drinking
directly from the container.
It is still another object of my invention to provide a reclosable
easy opening container with a non-detachable tab.
It is another object of my invention to provide an easy opening
container hving a pull tab which does not break off prior to
completion of opening the container.
It is a further object of my invention to provide a reclosable easy
opening container having a container end which is easily produced
by can manufacturer by insertion of a resilient molded piece in
aperture means in the metal end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other important objects of my invention will become
apparent from the following description and from the drawings
showing preferred embodiments wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an unopened easy
opening container having the non-detachable tab opening device of
this invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the non-detachable tab
openng device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1 but with the container
opened.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the opening device of this
invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view as indicated in Section 5--5 in FIG.
4.
FIGS. 6 - 11 are sectional views as in FIG. 5 showing the steps in
operating a preferred embodiment of my invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring in detail to the figures and particularly to FIG. 1, an
easy opening type of container is designated by numeral 21. The
container has sidewalls 22 and a container end 23 joined to walls
22 by seam 24. Attached to container end 23 is an opening device 25
having a resilient lip portion 26, a resilient removable portion 27
and a pull tab 28. Pull tab 28 has a pull tab grip 29 and tab
extension means 30 integrally connected with resilient removable
portion 27. Pull tab 28 is used in removing removable portion 27
from lip portion 26 to prepare the container for pouring or
drinking.
As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, tab extension means 30 is
connected to removable portion 27 by a tab connection means 31. Tab
connection means 31 is integral with both pull tab 28 and removable
portion 27.
As shown clearly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, hinge means 32 connects
removable portion 27 to lip portion 26. In the preferred embodiment
shown, hinge means 32 is integral with both removable portion 27
and lip portion 26. As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3 hinge means 32
is adjacent inner end 34 of opening device 25 while tab connection
means 31 is adjacent outer end 33.
As shown best in FIG. 3 and the sectional drawing of FIG. 5,
resilient lip portion 26 has a top surface 35 which is above and
adjacent to container end 23. Top surface 35 includes edges 36
about each of two apertures defined by lip portion 26. The function
of edges of 36 will be described hereinafter.
Container end 23 of this preferred embodiment defines two aperture
means consisting of two container apertures. Lip portion 26 has two
protrusions 44 extending respectively through the two container
apertures. Protrusions 44 of lip portion 26 define locking groove
means 41 thereabout which grip container end 23 about each of the
container apertures.
Lip portion 26 defines lip aperture means which in the case of this
preferred embodiment consists of two lip apertures 46. Lip
apertures 46 are aligned with the container apertures such that the
beverage within container 21 may exit the container therethrough.
Lip portion 26 also defines snap groove means 37 about each of lip
apertures 46 below top surface 35 such that lip apertures 46 are
larger below top surface 35 than at top surface 35. The purpose of
snap grooves 37 will be explained hereinafter.
As shown most clearly in FIG. 5, resilient removable portion 27 is
bonded by bond means 40 to edges 36 of lip portion 26 at top
surface 35. Bond means 40 make removable portion 27 an airtight cap
over lip apertures 46. In the preferred embodiment of my invention
as shown, bond means 40 is integral with lip portion 26 and
removable portion 27, that is, the same material forms lip portion
26, bond means 40 and removable portion 27.
FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 clearly show the details of removable portion
27. Removable portion 27 is substantially planar and lying in a
horizontal plane when the can is in an upright position and is
unopened. Plug means 38, consisting of two plugs, protrude from the
under surface 42 of removable portion 27. In the embodiment shown,
plug means 38 are integral with the remainder of removable portion
27. Plug means 38 are in positions corresponding to lip apertures
46.
Removable portion 27 is at a higher level when bonded to lip
portion 26 prior to initial opening than when inserted in
reclosing. As shown clearly in the figures plugs 38 have bulging
portions 39 which during reclosure fit snugly into the
aforementioned snap grooves 37 defined by lip portion 26. Plugs 38
are essentially complementary to snap grooves 37 and are airtightly
engagable with snap grooves 37 such that removable portion 27 may
be reclosable connected to lip portion 26. In this preferred
embodiment, plugs 38 of the non-detachable removable portion and
snap grooves 37 may be readily engaged such that reclosing is a
convenient operation. Since both lip portion 26 and removable
portion 27 are of resilient material, their tight engagement is
sufficient to prevent loss of carbonation and to prevent off
flavors from being exposed to the contained beverage.
As shown best in FIG. 4, pull tab 28 has a pull tab grip 29 located
adjacent inner end 34. This location removes it from the seam area
to avoid the aforementioned problems. Pull tab 28 has tab extension
means 30 consisting of two legs extending from tab grip 29 and
encircling removable portion 27. Tab extension means 30 is
connected to removable portion 27 at outer end 33. The necessity of
hinge means 32 being located at inner end 34 makes it impossible
for a pull tab to be attached to removable portion 27 at inner end
34. Tab extension means 30 permits attachment at outer end 33
without relocation of tab grip 29. Tack 47, as shown in FIGS. 4 and
5, holds tab grip 29 down near container end 23 prior to initial
opening. This removes it from operation areas during seaming of the
container end to the container walls, during filling and during
packaging and shipment. Tack 47 assures that pull tab 28 will not
interfere in any of these operations.
In the preferred embodiment shown, tab extension means 30 extend
from tab grip 29 and encircle removable portion 27 substantially on
the same level therewith. The legs of tab extension means 30 are
flat and thus stay well below the top level of the seam to avoid
the problems associated therewith which were discussed above.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 11, the operation of the preferred
embodiment of my invention is illustrated. FIG. 6 shows the
non-detachable tab opening device of my invention in the initial
stage, that is, prior to opening. Removable portion 27 is
airtightly bonded to lip portion 26. Bond means 40 and the
connection of lip portion 26 to container end 23 by locking groove
means 41 is suficient to provide an excellent seal such that under
ambient temperatures and shipping conditions there will be no
leakage. Tack 47 is unbroken and is holding the inner end of pull
tab 28 substantially parallel with the container end so that it
does not extend above the top of seam 24 which is not shown.
Referring to FIG. 7, the initial stages of the original opening are
illustrated. The finger of an operator, not shown, is inserted in
pull tab grip 29 and an upward force is applied to break tack 47.
Tack 47, which is plastic integral with removable portion 27 and
pull tab 28 in this preferred embodiment, is easily ruptured since
its size is quite small.
Referring to FIG. 8, the rupture of bond means 40 is illustrated.
This rupturing is accomplished by the exertion of an upward and
rightward force, as shown in FIG. 3, through pull tab 28. Tab
extension means 30 transmits the force exerted in pull tab grip 29
to outer end 33 and the rupture is accomplished from left to right
as shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 9 illustrates the easy opening container of my invention with
removable portion 27 and pull tab 28 fully extended to the right,
away from apertures 46 such that the container is in condition for
drinking or pouring. Removable portion 27 and pull tab 28 can be
held substantially flat against container end 23 by the finger of
the drinker to insure that it remains away from the flow area. Pull
tab 28, in this preferred embodiment, will extend beyond the far
seam such that the drinker can hold it against the wall of the
container substantially perpendicular to container end 23 and
removable portion 27. Hinge means 32 may be grooved or the material
trained such that removable portion 27 and pull tab 28 have a
tendency to lie down without being held by a drinker. There are
many well known ways which are suited for holding removable portion
27 and pull tab 28 away from the flow area.
It should be noted that neither removable portion 27 nor pull tab
28 pose any danger to the face of the drinker, particularly because
of their location and, in the peferred embodiment shown, because it
is made entirely of a resilient material such as certain plastics.
Yet they remain attached and indeed cannot be detached without a
cutting action or violent pulling action of a type which would be
quite abnormal.
Referring to FIG. 10, the initial stages of reclosing are
illustrated. A downward force is exerted on removable portion 27 to
insert plugs 38 into apertures 46 of lip portion 26.
FIG. 11 illustrates the opening device completely reclosed. Note
that bulging portions 39 have mated with hollowed portions 43 in
lip portion 26 and that removable portion 27 is now at a level
lower than its level when bonded to lip portion 26 prior to rupture
of the bond means during initial opening. Also note that pull tab
28 is now on a level with removable portion 27 well below the top
of the container seam. By means of the same exertion of force
through pull tab 28 as was used in the initial opening and the same
closing method just explained, the container may be reopened and
reclosed repeatedly.
Hinge means 32 and tab connection means 31 may be of various
configurations and materials. I highly prefer using a material
integral with other portions of the opening device and indeed favor
making all parts of the opening device of a single flexible
material. If the opening device is made from a mateial such as
plastic, as I have done, all portions and connecting portions may
be molded together in a single mold. This provides the
aforementioned ease in making a container of this invention. The
old system of scoring and attaching a tab to the scored portion
required several mechanical operations including riveting, forming
and scoring. I can use a single molded piece and yet gain all the
aforementioned advantages.
Lip portion 26 may be airtightly sealed to container end 23 in a
number of ways. However, in the preferred embodiment shown
protrusions 44 extend through container apertures in end 23 and
locking grooves 41 in lip portion 26 grip container end 23 about
the container apertures. Since locking grooves 41 are fairly deep,
it is possible to get an excellent airtight seal between resilient
lip portion 26 and container end 23 without the use of any sealing
compound. However, compounds may be used and indeed other
configurations differing from the preferred embodiment shown may be
used to form a sufficient airtight connection between container end
23 and lip portion 26. It will be noted that protrusions 44 are
generally tapered. This tapering facilitates the can manufacture's
insertion of opening device 25 into the apertures of container end
23 by acting as a pilot.
As shown in the figures, plugs 38 have hollowed portion 43. Plugs
may be either hollow or solid since both work satisfactorily.
In the preferred embodiments shown in the figures, opening device
25 is off-center and has two apertures which are radially aligned.
The aperture farthest off-center, that is, at the outer end of
opening device 25, is a flow aperture for the contained beverage.
The smaller aperture near the center of container end 23 is a vent
aperture which functions primarily to allow inward air passage as
the liquid flows out the flow aperture. It will be noted that the
apertures are similar in shape. This is not necessary as differing
shapes may be used. Circular apertures are preferred because the
airtight seal upon reclosing is quite satisfactory using that
configuration. Further, circular apertures are quite satisfactory
from the standpoint of rupturing the bond means initially
connecting the removable portion to the lip portion. However,
triangular configurations, or other regular or irregular
configurations may be used.
While the preferred embodiment shows two apertures, a single
aperture or more than two apertures are within the limits of my
invention. A single aperture would normally be larger than the flow
aperture of the embodiment shown and would normally be radially
elongated so that the portion near the inner end would provide the
venting function during drinking or pouring.
The opening device may be made of a wide variety of plastic or
other resilient materials. I have used polyvinyl chloride in
initial testing with success. Other materials include low and high
density polyethylene, polypropylene, certain polyesters of phthalic
acid and ethylene glycol such as Mylar, certain nylons such as
nylon 6-6, nylon 6, nylon 6-10, nylon 11 and nylon 12, styrene
acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene butadiene acrylonitrile
terpolymer, polyacetal, ionomer, polyallomer, and mixtures of any
of the above with chlorinated polyolefins. Preferred materials
include, polyvinyl chloride, high density polyethylene and
isotactic polypropylene.
The resilient materials listed will form a good seal upon reclosing
and yet have enough "give" that it is possible to snap the
reclosure portion to the lip portion with ease. Further, all of the
materials listed can provide hinge means, connection means, tab
extension means and other parts of satisfactory strength to achieve
the desired results in a single molded piece. Other materials and
combinations of materials will be apparent to persons skilled in
the art and familiar with my invention.
While in the foregoing specification this invention has been
described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and
many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is
susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the
details described herein can be varied considerably without
departing from the basic principles of the invention.
* * * * *