Can End Construction

Abstract

An aluminum food product can having an easily opened can end member seamed to one end of the can body. The can is opened by tearing a removable panel portion from the can end member along an endless main score line located adjacent and above an inwardly projecting shoulder formed in the can body below the seam. The removable panel portion has a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation at its periphery. The main score line is formed in the top layer of the triple fold and the two lower layers extend radially in all directions beneath and beyond the location of the main score line. A pull ring having a center line extending through its rivet connection with the removable panel portion and its nose is located and held with its center line extending radially of the can end with the nose overlapping the score line. Two bend line scores are provided in the removable panel portion extending perpendicular to the pull ring center line, one located between the rivet and pull ring nose and the other located a considerable distance behind the rivet. Angularly, centrally diverging control ribs are formed in the removable panel portion located outside of the pull ring and extending from the second bend line score outwardly beyond the first bend line score toward the main score line. The cooperative structural features reduce the pull required to open the can.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The can end structures with protective folds are improvements on the structures shown in copending McKernan and Stargell application Ser. No. 229,678, filed Feb. 28, 1972, and Stargell application Ser. No. 229,447, filed Oct. 20, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to food product cans that are provided with can end members which may be opened easily be tearing a panel portion thereof along an endless score line formed in the can end member, wherein the removed panel portion torn from the can end member has a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation at its periphery, and wherein the panel portion may be torn from the can end member with minimum effort, pull or force by a pull ring secured to the panel portion without pull ring failure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Elimination of hazards stemming from sharp edges on end panel portions torn from full opening can end members frequently made of aluminum has been accomplished by providing a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation at the periphery of the panel portion removed; for example, can end members such as shown in said applications Ser. Nos. 229,678 and 299,447.

Such food product cans frequently are supplied to and opened by children. Accordingly the cans should be capable of being opened with a minimum effort or pull.

Prior can end members or structures that have hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formations on the panel portion torn or removed from the can end member, insofar as I am aware, have required a pull of the order of 11 1/2 pounds in order to rupture the score line on which the removed panel portion is torn, and to tear the panel portion to be removed completely around its periphery on such score line.

Such pull requirements are considerably larger than convenient or desirable for opening a full opening can by any individual, and particularly by a child. These problems have been discovered to have arisen in the use of can end members or structures shown in said applications Ser. Nos. 229,678 and 299,447, and apparently result from a complicated combination of circumstances.

Such circumstances include the stiffening of the triple fold protected periphery of the torn out panel portion by the triple fold; the relationship of the pull ring and removed panel portion components in respect of the pull ring nose and score line at the outer periphery of the triple fold, and the location of the rivet connection between the pull ring and removed panel portion; the manner in which portions of the pull ring and portions of the removed panel are permitted to bend or be distorted as the pull ring first is raised as a lever to depress a zone of the triple fold to rupture the can end member initially along the score line and to position the raised pull ring so that a final upward pull, following the lever action, tears the entire panel portion to be removed from the can end member along the score line located immediately adjacent the seam between the can body and the can end member; the annular clearance space that must be maintained between the nose of the pull ring and the seam for accommodating the chuck used to form the seam; the relative locations of the top surface of the top fold layer of the triple fold, and the top surface of the panel portion around the rivet connecting the pull ring to the panel portion; the location of the lines or zones on which the removed panel portion may be bent with respect to the rivet during the initial rupture of the score line; and the nature, shape or size of the opening initially formed along the score line as the pull ring is raised as a lever.

One of the problems with the combined structural arrangement of the folded edge, the can end seam, the pull ring and the rivet location securing the lanced pull ring to the panel to be removed with initial rupture of the outer score line adjacent the outer triple folded edge, accomplished by bending on a secondary score line immediately outboard of the rivet, as shown in said application Ser. No. 229,678, apparently resulted from a triple folded edge on the removed panel portion of such stiffness that it required an extremely large force to be applied to the pull ring for panel portion removal.

The leverage could not be increased by extending the nose of the pull ring further outboard, since clearance has to be maintained to accommodate the chuck wall used in forming the seam between the can end and body.

The provision of a space or clearance between the top and two bottom folds of the triple fold at the edge of the removed panel portion as in said application Ser. No. 299,447 in an attempt to flex more easily the top of the triple fold in rupturing the end for panel portion removal was not completely satisfactory for solving the large pull force problem and a further related problem of a possible requirement of a complete redesign of the ring and of the offset nose of the pull ring to strengthen the pull ring between the rivet and nose.

One of the first expedients that appeared to be suggested by the prior art for eliminating the indicated difficulties was to provide an additional "mustache-type" score line inboard of the rivet and beneath the pull ring with or without a lanced pull ring, to provide a location for the initial rupture of the removed panel portion along such inboard score line. However, this expedient, while reducing the pulling force required for panel portion removal was discovered to present again a raw metal edge along the "mustache" score on the removed panel portion involving the very hazard sought to be eliminated, of a raw cutting edge at the ruptured "mustache-type" score line which can be dangerous on the removed panel portion.

These considerations, and the difficulties encountered in attempting to avoid the effect of the complicated combination of circumstances described, and to solve the problems that have arisen, thus have presented a need for a can end structure having a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation at the periphery of a removable panel portion in which the removable panel portion may be removed with a pull of the order of about one-half that heretofore required for removing prior removable panel portion structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objectives of the invention include providing a new can end member and container construction having a full opening removable end wall panel portion provided with a triple fold protected dull edge which may be torn with minimum pull from the can end member along a score line located immediately adjacent the seam between the can body and end member; providing a new can end member construction which has a readily removable panel portion that is not dangerous and does not present a hazard to a child who with minimum pull may zip the end panel from a snack-containing can; providing a new can end member construction which readily may be incorporated in prior can end structures of types which were difficult to remove or which inherently presented the hazards described; providing a new can end member structure having a hazard-eliminating protective triple fold dull edge formation, and a readily removed end panel portion incorporated in prior container constructions having other desirable features; providing a new can end member structure having a hazard-eliminating protective triple fold dull edge formation on a removed panel protion to which a pull ring is riveted with a new relationship between the rivet location, the nose of the pull ring and the location of two bend lines perpendicular to the axis of the pull ring, one located outboard and the other located inboard of the rivet center, on which the removed panel portion initially is bent as the end member is ruptured on the score line where the removed panel portion is torn by lifting and then pulling the pull ring; and providing a construction eliminating the described difficulties heretofore encountered; achieving the indicated objectives simply, effectively and inexpensively, and solving existing problems and satisfying existing needs in the canned food products field.

These objectives and advantages are obtained by the easy opening metal can and can end member construction, the general nature of which may be stated as including an aluminum can end member adapted to be seamed to the side walls of a metal can body by a usual double seam; the end wall having a recessed end panel extending from a recessed corner; the corner being located below the seam and being seated on an inwardly projecting annular shoulder or bead formed in the can body side wall below the seam; an end-panel-defining continuous score line formed in the end wall close to the recessed corner; the can body bead projecting inwardly beyond the score line location so that when the can is torn on the score line for removal of a panel portion, the severed edge remaining on the can is protected by the bead in hazard-free condition; pull ring means for tearing the end panel from the end wall; a protective triple fold formed in the end wall having a first metal layer extending annularly inwardly from the score line, then extending in a second layer reversely outwardly beneath the first layer to a location circumferentially underlapping and extending outwardly beyond the score line location, and then extending in a third layer reversely inwardly beneath the first and second layers and into the can end panel portion; rivet means integral with the removable panel portion securing the pull ring means to the removable panel portion, the pull ring means having a nose overlapping and overlying the score line; a first bend line formed in the panel portion perpendicular to an axis of the pull ring means passing through the centers of the rivet means and nose; a second bend line formed in the panel portion parallel with the first bend line; the first bend line being located outboard of the rivet means and being spaced from the pull ring means nose a distance approximately equal to the spacing of the second bend line from the center of the rivet means inboard of the rivet means; and the first bend line being spaced outboard of the center of the rivet means a distance equal to about one third of the first bend line spacing from the pull ring means nose; control ribs formed in the removable panel portion extending angularly outside of the outline of the pull ring from a location adjacent the first bend line to a location adjacent the second bend line and diverging away from each other in the direction of the center of the panel portion from the first bend line to the second bend line; and said control ribs preferably being embossed or depressed downwardly in the panel portion to project into the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the improved can end structures with protective folds of the invention -- illustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles -- are set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a can provided with one form of the improved can end construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on he line 2--2, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the can end shown in FIG. 1 in its stage prior to being seamed to the can as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the upper left-hand corner portion of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows 4--4, FIG. 3 after the stage blank of FIG. 3 has been seamed to the can of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the initial stage of rupturing the removable panel portion of the can end along the score line, at an intermediate position of lever lifting of the pull ring;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing the completion of the lever lifting action of the pull ring in initiating rupture of an initial portion of the removable protective edge panel portion, prior to pulling the pull ring upward to complete severance and removal of the panel portion;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of parts broken away and in section looking in the direction of the arrows 7--7, FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows 8--8, FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side view with parts broken away and in section looking in the direction of the arrows 9--9, FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of one of the control ribs taken on the line 10--10, FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one of the control ribs looking in the direction of the arrows 11--11, FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the inter-related and cooperative relationship between certain of the components of the new construction characterizing the invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section on line 13--13, FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is a view looking in the direction of arrows 14--14, FIG. 6;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 3 in a modified form of construction;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the construction shown in FIG. 15 looking in the direction of the arrows 16--16, FIG. 15; and

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of the construction of FIGS. 15 and 16.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

The invention is illustrated typically in the drawings applied to a small sized can, although the can may be of any one of a number of sizes or capacities, or of any one of a number of types made by various manufacturers and which have a continuous score line in the can end member adjacent the double seam between the can body and end wall.

The improved form of can end member construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 11 includes a can 1, generally of conventional construction having a cup-shaped body with a bottom wall 2 and side walls 3, to which the can end member generally indicated at 4 is connected through a seam flange 5 by a usual double seam 6 at the upper or open end of the side walls 3. Can end member 4 has a recessed corner 7 at the lower end of the double seam 6, preferably seated on a ledge or shoulder 8 formed by an inwardly projecting annular bead 9 formed in the side walls 3 below the seam 6.

A curved score line 10 is formed in the end member 4 very close to the recessed corner 7. The score line 10 defines a panel portion 11 which is completely removable from the remainder of the end member 10, when torn or peeled along score line 10 to provide a fully opened top for the can 1.

A pull ring 12 is connected by a rivet 13 with the panel portion 11 and may have a construction modified from that shown in Henning et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,948. Pull ring 12 preferably is formed of sheet metal of somewhat heavier gauge than the sheet metal of which can 1 and end member 4 are formed. Members 1 and 4 preferably are formed of aluminum.

End member 4 may be made in general to include a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation 14 at its periphery, in accordance with the procedures shown in said application Ser. No. 299,447; and the pull ring 12 may have the structure in general shown in Henning et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,643.

Also, the interior of the can at the undersurface of the end member may be provided with an enamel coating to withstand the corrosive attack of food products that may be packed in can 1.

The protective triple fold formation 14 on end member 4 extends completely circumferentially around and overlaps the score line 10. Fold 14 has a first layer 15 extending annularly inwardly from the score line 10, a second layer 16 extending reversely outwardly beneath first layer 15, and a third layer 17 extending reversely inwardly beneath the first and second layers 15 and 16. The third layer 17 comprises the outer extremity of the main body of the removable panel portion 11 of the end member 4.

A recess 18 may be embossed in the main panel portion 11 to facilitate grasping of the ring portion 19 of pull ring 12 to open the can 1. Pull ring 12 may be lanced with a moon-shaped slot-like lance 20 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to permit easy flexing as the pull ring 12 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 4 initially to the position of FIG. 5, and finally to that of FIG. 6 for rupturing the end member 4 along the initial ruptured portion of score line 10.

In accordance with the invention, a first bend line score 21 is formed in the panel portion 11 perpendicular to the axis 22 of pull ring 12. The pull ring axis 22 passes through the center of the rivet 13 and through the center of the nose 23 of pull ring 12. The first bend line score 21 is located outboard of the rivet 13 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, etc.

A second bend line score 24 is formed in the panel portion 11 parallel with the first bend line score 21. The second bend line score 24 is located inboard of the rivet 13.

Also in accordance with the invention, control ribs 25 cooperatively arranged with respect to the first and second bend line scores 21 and 24 are formed in the removable panel portion 11. The control ribs 25 are located outside of the outline or contour of the pull ring 12 (FIG. 3). The ribs 25 preferably are embossed or depressed downwardly in the panel portion 11, so as to project into the can. As best shown in FIG. 3, the control ribs 25 extend angularly and diverge away from each other in the direction of the center of the panel portion 11.

The outer ends 26 of the control ribs 25 are located adjacent the extremities 27 of the first bend line score 21 (FIG. 12). The inner ends 28 of control ribs 25 intersect with or terminate along the second bend line score 24, as indicated by the breaks 29 in the second bend line score 24 spaced from the extremities 30 of bend line score 24. Thus, the control ribs 25 extend and diverge angularly from a location adjacent the ends 27 of the first bend line score 21 to a location 29 along the second bend line score 24.

This cooperative relationship between the control ribs 25 and bend line scores 21 and 24 prevents the panel portion 11 from being bent in the zone thereof extending between the bend line scores 21 and 24, as rupture of the score line 10 is initiated, and provides controlled bending as described below during the lever action of the pull ring 12.

The cooperative relationship of the various elements of the new construction of the invention, is further characterized by the relative cooperative locations of the bend line scores 21 and 24, the location of the center of the rivet 13 and the location of the tip of the nose 23 of pull ring 12, which overlaps the score line 10 (FIG. 4) at the point of initial rupture.

The first bend line score 21 is spaced from the main score line 10, beneath the pull ring nose 23, a distance (A -- FIG. 12) practically equal to the spacing (B) of the second bend line score 24 from the center of the rivet 13. The first bend line 21 also is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet 13, a distance (C) equal to about one third of the spacing A of the bend line 21 from the score line 10. The bend line 21 also is located as close as possible to the rivet 13, the distance of the score line 21 from the center of the rivet 13 being slightly greater than the radius (D) of the overhang of the rivet head. Preferably, the nose 23 of the pull ring 12 overlaps the center of the score line 10 about 0.010 inch (E). For example, the various dimensional relationships may be as follows:

A -- 0.227"

b -- 0.226"

c -- 0.080"

d -- 0.075"

e -- o.010"

Thus, the distance F from the center of the rivet 13 to the score line 10 is C + A or 0.307 inch; and the distance G from the center of rivet 13 to the pull tab nose 23 is C + A + E or 0.317 inch. The panel portion 11 may be provided with a pair of raised buttons 31 engaging opposite side edges of pull ring 12, as shown in FIG. 3 to locate the pull ring 12 at the proper position as the rivet 13 is being formed. However, these buttons 31 do not necessarily at all times hold the pull ring 12 in position with the pull ring axis 22 extending radially of the end member 4, which it is necessary to do for the proper functioning of the pull ring 12, when initially rupturing the can end along score line 10.

The possibility of changed position of the pull ring 12 can arise when the ring portion 19 is lifted so as to be located above buttons 31. At this time the pull ring 12 might be rotated about the rivet 13. Such rotation must be prevented. This may be accomplished by using any one of a number of staking devices preventing rotation of the pull ring 12 on rivet 13. For example, the rivet may have a squared or flat-sided shank, or the pull ring may have a squared or oval opening surrounding the rivet shank, or both configurations can be used. Also, as shown, the pull ring bottom wall 32 may be provided with a notch 33 in the inner area of lance slot 20, engaged by a projection 34 formed in the panel portion 11.

A clearance space 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 13 between the first layer 15 and second layer 16 of the triple fold 14, as described in application Ser. No. 299,447 for facilitating initial flexing of the first triple fold layer 15 when the can end is initially ruptured by the nose 23 of the pull ring 12. The annular extent of clearance space 40 may be up to 100.degree., 50.degree. on each side of the pull ring nose 23, as indicated in application Ser. No. 299,447. However, in can ends incorporating the improvements of the present invention, the extent of this clearance space preferably is decreased somewhat from the described 100.degree..

The can 1 may be opened by grasping the ring portion 19 of pull ring 12 and raising the ring portion in a lever-like manner so that the pull ring moves initially from the position of FIGS. 3 and 4 to that of FIGS. 5 and 7, during which movement the initial rupture of the score line 10 occurs. The panel portion 11 initially bends on first bend line score 21 between its extremities 27. The distortion of the metal in the panel portion beyond the extremities 27 of bend line 21 angles as shown at 21a from the extremities 27 to the outer ends 26 of the control ribs 25 and outwardly therefrom across the triple fold 14 to the location where the metal is torn along the score line 10.

Further lever-like manipulation of pull ring 12 from the position of FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 6 continues tearing of the panel portion 11 from end member 4 along score line 10 in each direction around the can to provide a very wide opening with the panel portion 11 now bending on second bend line score 24 throughout the length of the bend line 24 between its extremities 30 and beyond, across the triple fold 14 to score line 10, indicated by the points 35 (FIG. 12) where an imaginary extension of score line 24 intersects score line 10 and defines the wide arc W (FIG. 12) measuring the wide opening provided in the can end. Sometimes the bend may extend further around score line 10 so that the initial opening angle W may be from 120.degree. to 150.degree..

The distance between the points 35 defined by wide arc W is not much less (FIG. 12) than the diameter of the score line 10. Accordingly, the metal presents minimum resistance to continued tearing on score line 10 upon lifting pull ring 12 to completely remove panel portion 11.

The nose 23 of pull ring 12 in assembled position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 13, overlies the top fold or first layer 15 of the triple fold 14. However, during rupture of the panel portion 11 on score line 10 as pull ring 12 is manipulated from the position of FIG. 4 to the positions of FIGS. 5 and 6, the pull ring nose 23 forms a substantial V-shaped indentation in the triple fold 14 and particularly in the first layer 15 thereof, as shown in FIG. 14 at 36. The V-shape is formed by the V-shaped cross-sectional contour 37 of the nose 23, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.

The contour of the bent distortion 38 occurring initially on bend line score 21 is generally an open shallow U-shape, indicated generally at 38 in FIG. 7 and running along line 21 to extremities 27 and then along angular areas 21a (FIGS. 7 and 12). The secondary bent distortion of the panel portion 11 where it is bent on second bend line score 24 is substantially a straight line bend, as indicated generally at 39 in FIG. 8.

The protective triple fold 14 provides a hazard-eliminating formation at the periphery of the removed panel portion 11 and the location of the score line 10 above the can bead 9 protects the torn edge remaining on the can at the location of the score line 10 in a hazard-free condition. Accordingly, the improved construction retains the advantages of the constructions shown in said applications Ser. Nos. 229,678 and 299,447.

The relocation, however, of the relative position of the rivet 13, farther away from the score line 10 than shown in said applications Ser. Nos. 229,678 and 299,447; the provision of the first and second bend line scores 21 and 24 for the initial secondary bending of the panel portion 11 at bent portions 38 and 39 during rupture thereof on score line 10; the provision of the control ribs 25, and their angularity, location and arrangement with respect to the bend lines 21 and 24 and the center of the rivet 13; and a holding of the pull ring nose 23 in a radially directed position slightly overlapping the score line 10; are interrelated and cooperate to enable a can 1 to be opened with a 5.0 to 7.5 pound pull, as compared with the requirement of an 11.5 pound pull for opening the can ends shown in said applications Ser. Nos. 229,678 and 299,447, resulting in a 35 to 56 percent reduction in pull requirements depending on whether the removable panel portion is flat (FIGS. 1014) or has a raised panel 41a (FIGS. 15-17).

The improved construction, including the relationship between the rivet center, bend lines and control ribs, provides a particularly large and wide segmental moon-shaped area from the initial location of the pull ring nose 23 (FIG. 4) back to the straight line bend 39 along secondary bend line score 24, as well shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, resulting from the lever action lifting of pull ring 12. This large and wide opening during the initial rupture of the can end, also indicated generally by the opening angle W extending between the points 35 in FIG. 12, enables continued tearing along score line 10 from the points 35 around the remainder of the score line 10 by an upward pull reacting generally downwardly and only slightly laterally (viewing FIG. 12), which involves a minimum pull as the remainder of panel portion 11 is lifted or pulled from the can, thus satisfying the minimum pull objective.

In this manner, the objective is achieved requiring only minimum effort, pull or force to be exerted to remove a panel portion of a full opening can which has a hazard-eliminating protective metal thickness dull edge fold formation at its periphery.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17. The improved can end structure shown therein is substantially identical with that shown in FIGS. 1-14 except that the removable panel portion 41 of the can end has a raised panel 41a defined by an annular shoulder 42 so that the area of the raised panel portion 41a within the annular shoulder 42 lies in the same plane as the plane of the top or first fold layer 15 of triple fold 14. Thus, the shoulder 42 and triple fold 14 which are spaced from one another, in effect form an annular channel 43 surrounded by the triple fold 14.

The location of the raised panel 41a at a location in the same plane as that of the first or top layer 15 of the triple fold 14, enables the bottom wall 44 of the pull ring 45 to extend in a flat plane without an offset in the nose 46 of pull ring 45. Thus, the offset in the pull ring 12 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is eliminated.

The elimination of the pull ring nose offset permits the V-shape 47 of the nose 46 to be deeper, thus providing additional strength for the pull ring 45 without the necessity of using heavier gauge metal in manufacturing the pull ring, which would require costly and complicated dies to be replaced for pull ring manufacture.

The provision of additional strength in the pull ring 45 without an offset in the pull ring nose 46, avoids occasional malfunction of the pull ring in the field which sometimes may result when th pull ring is not grasped properly for lever action and lifting; or may result from undetected variations in mechanical properties of the sheet metal from which the pull rings are manufactured.

The construction and operation of the end member generally indicated at 48 having the raised panel 41a in the removed panel portion 41, and having the modified pull ring 45 otherwise is constructed and operates in the same manner as described in connection with the flat bottom wall removable panel portion 11 of end member 4, shown in FIGS. 1-14.

It is important, however, because of the raised panel 41a, provided by the annular shoulder 42 and thus the raising of the control ribs 25 in the panel, that the depth of the control ribs 49 particularly at their outer ends 50, be maintained at a value similar to that in the construction of FIGS. 1-14. A deep rib contour is particularly important at the outer control rib ends 50 where they merge into the annular channel 43, so that the shallow open U-shaped initial bend pattern occurs along first bend line score 51, and angled from the extremities thereof outwardly at 52 to the outer ends 50 of the control ribs.

IN GENERAL

The improvements of the present invention, incorporated in both embodiments of can ends disclosed, that is the end members 4 and 48, provide a can end wherein a removed panel portion has a hazard-eliminating triple metal thickness dull edge formation at its periphery, which panel portion may be torn from the can end member with a minimum effort, pull or force significantly less than that heretofore required; and thus provides a construction which solves a problem which has arisen in eliminating the hazards previously presented in the aluminum canned food products field, and therefore provides a construction which achieves the objectives and satisfies needs that have existed in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described since the features of the invention may be applied to different sized cans.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved structure achieves the objectives, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations and sub-combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a metal can of a type in which a can end member is seamed to one end of a can body, in which the can end member has a panel portion removable by tearing along an endless main score line located adjacent and above an inwardly projecting shoulder formed in the can body below a seam formed between the end member and body, in which the removable panel portion has a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal dull edge fold formation at its periphery, in which a pull ring is riveted to the removable panel portion with a center line extending radially through the rivet connection and a pull ring nose overlapping the main score line, and in which the main score line is formed in the top layer of the triple fold and the two lower triple fold layers extend beneath and beyond the location of the main score line; the construction in which two bend line scores are formed in the removable panel portion extending perpendicular to the pull ring center line, the first located between the rivet and main score line close to the rivet, and the second located behind the rivet approximately the same distance as the spacing between the first and main score line; and angularly centrally diverging control ribs formed in the removable panel portion located outside the pull ring and extending between the first and second bend line scores.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the first bend line is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet a distance equal to about one-third of the spacing of the first bend line from the main score line.

3. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the first bend line is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet about 0.080 inch, and is spaced from the main score line about 0.227 inch; and in which the second bend line is spaced about 0.226 inch from the center of the rivet.

4. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the angularly diverging control ribs extend from a location between the first and main bend lines to a location aligned with the second bend line.

5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which the control ribs are embossed downwardly in the panel portion.

6. The construction defined in claim 5 in which interengaging means are formed on the pull ring and panel preventing rotation of the pull ring on the rivet to maintain the radially extending location of the pull ring center line during tearing of the removable panel portion from the end member.

7. In a metal can end of a type which is adapted to be seamed to a can body, in which the can end has a seam flange and a recessed corner located below the seam flange, in which a recessed portion extends inward from the corner, in which an annular three-layer fold extends continuously around the recessed portion adjacent said corner, in which there is an inwardly convex upper reverse bend between the top two layers of the three-layer fold and an outwardly convex lower reverse bend beneath the upper layer and between the lower two layers of the three-layer fold, in which there is a continuous main score line in the top surface of the top fold layer located radially between the upper and lower reverse bends, and in which a pull ring has rivet connection with the recessed portion and has a nose located adjacent the score line; the improvement including two spaced bend line scores formed in the can end extending perpendicular to a pull ring center line passing through the rivet connection and nose, the first score line being located between the rivet connection and main score line close to the rivet, the second score line being located behind the rivet connection at approximately the same distance as the spacing between the first line and main score line; and angularly centrally diverging control ribs formed in the can end and located outside the pull ring and extending between the first and second bend line scores.

8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the first bend line is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet a distance equal to about one-third of the spacing of the first bend line from the main score line.

9. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the first bend line is spaced outboard of the center of the rivet about 0.080 inch and is spaced from the main score line about 0.227 inch; and in which the second bend line is spaced about 0.226 inch from the center of the rivet.

10. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the angularly diverging control ribs extend from a location between the first and main bend lines to a location aligned with the second bend line.

11. The construction defined in claim 10 in which the control ribs are embossed downwardly in the panel portion.

12. The construction defined in claim 11 in which interengaging means are formed on the pull ring and panel preventing rotation of the pull ring on the rivet to maintain the radially extending location of the pull ring center line during tearing of the removable panel portion from the end member.

13. The construction defined in claim 8 in which an arc defined by the intersection of an extension of the second bend line with the main score line subtends an initial opening angle of from 120.degree. to 150.degree., whereby a wide initial opening is provided by lifting the pull ring to initially bend the can end on the first bend line and then on the second bend line.

14. The construction defined in claim 13 in which the metal in the can end inboard of the main score line is distorted angularly from the outer ends of the extremitites of the first bend line across the three-layer fold to the main score line as the can end is initially bent on the first bend line.

15. The construction defined in claim 13 in which the contour of the bent distortion of th can end metal occurring initially on the first bend line has an open shallow U-shape; and in which the secondary bent distortion of the can end on the second bend line is a substantially straight line bend.

16. The construction defined in claim 13 in which the portion of the can end inboard of the three-layer fold and containing the rivet connection lies in the plane of and extends inwardly from the lowermost layer of the three-layer fold.

17. The construction defined in claim 16 in which interengaging means are formed on the pull ring and can end preventing rotation of the pull ring on the rivet connection to maintain a radially extending location of the pull ring center line during tearing of the can end on the main score line.

18. The construstion defined in claim 13 in which the portion of the can end in which the rivet connection is formed lies in the plane of the top layer of the three-layer fold; and in which the pull ring has a bottom wall which extends in a flat plane between the rivet connection and the pull ring nose.

19. The construction defined in claim 18 in which interengaging means are formed on the pull ring and can end preventing rotation of the pull ring on the rivet connection to maintain a radially extending location of the pull ring center line during tearing of the can end on the main score line.