U.S. patent number 3,843,011 [Application Number 05/231,124] was granted by the patent office on 1974-10-22 for container with attached closure.
Invention is credited to Walter Merton Perry.
United States Patent |
3,843,011 |
Perry |
October 22, 1974 |
CONTAINER WITH ATTACHED CLOSURE
Abstract
An improved method for forming the self opening closure used for
containers of liquid materials, especially those used for
carbonated beverages, and arranged for consumption direct from the
container. One means comprises a segment formed from the material
of the container top and arranged to be pushed opened inwardly and
with means to anchor it to the top after opening. Sealing means are
adhesives, or alternatively a thin, breakable membrane.
Option-leverage means are provided to assist in breaking the
adhesive. Another closure means is a gasketed plug, also arranged
for inward opening and with anchorage to the top. A further means
is a slide gate opening device with membrane sealing underneath.
Still another means is a segment outlined by a score line and with
leverage means for initiating breaking of the score line and with
completion of the opening by pushing the segment into the
container, also with top attaching means. Still another variation
is a segment with part score line and part through cut, with
sealing means for the latter. The primary objective of these
closures is to eliminate the litter of the presently used tear-out
tab.
Inventors: |
Perry; Walter Merton (Darien,
CT) |
Family
ID: |
22867828 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/231,124 |
Filed: |
March 2, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/260; 220/265;
220/269 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D
51/383 (20130101); B65D 17/506 (20130101); B65D
17/503 (20130101); B65D 17/4014 (20180101); B65D
17/401 (20180101); B65D 17/4012 (20180101); B65D
2517/0098 (20130101); B65D 2517/0014 (20130101); B65D
2517/0062 (20130101); B65D 2517/007 (20130101); B65D
2517/0071 (20130101); B65D 2517/0017 (20130101); B65D
2517/5091 (20130101); B65D 2517/0011 (20130101); B65D
2517/0013 (20130101); B65D 2517/002 (20130101); B65D
2517/5081 (20130101); B65D 2517/5029 (20130101); B65D
2517/5056 (20130101); B65D 2517/5048 (20130101); B65D
2517/5008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B21D
51/38 (20060101); B65D 17/00 (20060101); B65D
17/50 (20060101); B65d 017/00 (); B65d
043/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/54,48,27,47,53 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. An improved container top made of ductile metal material and
having an easy opening means therein, in which said means comprises
a downwardly hingeable integral segment cut from said top to form
an opening, and with said segment positioned just below said
container top to bridge said opening, and with said opening smaller
than said segment, and with frangible sealing means between said
segment and said top to resist internal pressure in said container
and make said container top airtight, and in which said segment
remains attached to said container top by an uncut section of the
periphery of said segment after said segment has been pushed in to
open said container.
the improvement comprising, a swing locking arm rotatably mounted
on an integral rivet formed from the material of said segment, and
with said arm arranged to rotate so one end extends into locking
position with said container top to prevent downward movement of
said segment, and such that said arm can be rotated away from
contact with said container top when said segment is to be pushed
inwardly to open said container.
2. An improved container top as defined in claim 1 in which the
material of said segment and said top is aluminum.
3. An improved container top made of sheet material and having an
easy openable area which is bridged by a downwardly hingeable
integral segment, in which said segment member is cut from the
material of the top and with the through cut extending almost
around the periphery of the opening area but leaving an un-cut
section of the periphery to provide hingeable attachment of said
segment to said top to serve to support said segment when it is
deflected down to open the container, in which upper surfaces of
said segment around its outer margin are positioned just below
under surfaces of the walls defining said opening, and in which
walls bordering the edge of said opening in said top extend
inwardly into overlapping position relative to marginal edges of
said segment to serve to block said segment from upward movement
through said opening, as by internal pressure within the container,
an in which frangible sealing means is provided to seal between the
main body of said container top and said segment to render said
opening in said container top airtight.
the improvement comprising, a pivoted locking means mounted on an
integral rivet formed from the material of said segment, and said
locking means positioned to lock said segment to said container top
bordering said opening against downward movement of said segment,
and to prevent inadvertent opening of said segment, and such that
said locking means can be rotated away from contact with said
container top when said segment is to be pushed inwardly to open
said container.
4. An improved container top having an easy openable area which is
bridged by a downwardly hingeable integral segment, in which both
said top and said segment are formed of plastic, in which said
segment is integrally hingeably attached to said top along part of
the periphery of said opening, in which said segment is positioned
directly below said opening and in which said opening is smaller
than said segment to block said segment from moving upward through
said opening, as by internal pressure within the container, and in
which frangible sealing means is provided to seal between said
container top and said segment to render the opening area in said
top airtight,
the improvement comprising, a pivoted locking means mounted on
pivot shaft means on said segment, and said locking means
positioned to lock said segment to said container top bordering
said opening against downward movement of said segment, and to
prevent inadvertent opening of said segment, and such that said
locking means can be rotated away from contact with said container
top when said segment is to be pushed inwardly to open said
container.
5. An improved container top made of sheet material and having an
easy openable area which is bridged by a downwardly hingeable
integral segment, in which said segment member is cut from the
material of the top and with the through cut extending almost
around the periphery of the opening area but leaving an un-cut
section of the periphery to provide hingeable attachment of said
segment to said top to serve to support said segment when it is
deflected down to open the container, in which upper surfaces of
said segment around its outer margin are positioned just below
under surfaces of the walls defining said opening, and in which
walls bordering the edge of said opening in said top extend
inwardly into overlapping position relative to marginal edges of
said segment to serve to block said segment from upward movement
through said opening, as by internal pressure within the container,
and in which frangible sealing means is provided to seal between
the main body of said container top and said segment to render said
opening in said container top airtight,
the improvement comprising,
a. a manually operated lever arm means which is hingeably supported
on a fulcrum rivet means formed integrally from the material of
said top and positioned near the border of said opening,
b. said lever arm means having an arm extending from said fulcrum
rivet means and adapted to be manually actuated to initiate opening
of said segment by raising said arm away from the general plane of
said top, and
c. said lever arm means having a pressure member extending beyond
said fulcrum rivet means, and which is arranged to exert high
concentrated downward pressure at a point near the periphery of
said segment when said lever arm means is raised to initiate
rupture of said frangible sealing means, and to initiate opening of
said segment.
6. An improved container top as defined in claim 5 in which the
material of said segment and said top is aluminum.
7. An improved container top as defined in claim 5 in which said
frangible sealing means is an adhesive.
8. An improved container top as defined in claim 5 in which said
frangible sealing means is a thin membrane adhesively secured to
the underside of said container top to make the opening
airtight.
9. An improved container top made of sheet material and having an
easy openable area which is bridged by a downwardly hingeable
integral segment, in which said segment member is cut from the
material of the top and with the through cut extending almost
around the periphery of the opening area but leaving an un-cut
section of the periphery to provide hingeable attachment of said
segment to said top to serve to support said segment when it is
deflected down to open the container, in which upper surfaces of
said segment around its outer margin are positioned just below
under surfaces of the walls defining said opening, and in which
walls bordering the edge of said opening in said top extend
inwardly into overlapping position relative to marginal edges of
said segment to serve to block said segment from upward movement
through said opening, as by internal pressure within the container,
and in which frangible sealing means is provided to seal between
the main body of said container top and said segment to render said
opening in said container top airtight.
the improvement comprising,
a. a manually operated lever arm means which is pivotly supported
on a fulcrum rivet formed integrally from the material of said top
and which is positioned near the border of said opening,
b. said lever arm means having an arm extending from said fulcrum
rivet and adapted to be manually actuated by turning through an arc
in a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane of said top
to initiate opening of said segment, and
c. said lever arm member having a shorter pressure member attached
to said arm and positioned to exert a concentrated downward
pressure at a point near the periphery of said segment when said
lever arm is actuated to initiate rupture of said frangible sealing
means, and thereby to initiate opening of said segment.
10. An improved container top as defined in claim 9 in which
further contact point means is provided between said lever arm and
said segment to push said segment further down after the initial
rupture of said frangible sealing means has taken place.
11. An improved container top as defined in claim 9 in which said
lever arm means is positioned to bridge said opening just above
said segment in its unopened position to guard against inadvertent
opening of said segment.
12. An improved container top as defined in claim 1 in which said
frangible sealing means is an adhesive.
13. An improved container top as defined in claim 1 in which said
frangible sealing means is a thin membrane which is adhesively
secured to the underside of said container top to make the opening
airtight.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to easy opening means which is provided on
the end of a can or similar container, by which the can can be
opened without resorting to a separate tool or device which is not
part of the can assembly. It is concerned particularly to
containers for liquids which are normally consumed directly from
the can, and which may be under internal pressure before
opening.
2. Description of Prior Art
The opening means generally used heretofore results in a separate
piece being completely removed from the can end, and which is then
discarded. In the most common form, the can end is made of
aluminum, and an openable segment is defined in the end by score
lines, made by cutting the metal part way through in the outline of
the removeable segment. A leverage ring shaped tab is attached to
the inner end of the segment by an integral rivet. when the tab is
raised and pulled, the high leverage breaks the score line at the
small rivet end, and once broken, the remainder of the segment is
torn out. There are four principle disadvantages to this device.
One is the sharpness of the opening left in the can because of the
torn metal, another is the damage to the environment when the piece
is discarded, another is the danger to bare feet from the sharp tab
piece if on the ground, and a fourth is the cost of the extra metal
for the lifting tab.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary objective of the invention to provide an easy
opening means for a container in which the closure element remains
attached to the container so it will not be discarded separately.
Another primary objective the invention is to provide an opening
method which is easy to operate and does not require much force. A
further objective of the invention is to provide rounded edges in
the opening to prevent cutting the finger when opening the
container or the lips when drinking from the can.
A further objective of the invention is to form the plug for the
opening from the metal of the container end itself, in order to
save material, and to provide firm attachment of the segment to the
container after opening. Another objective of the invention is to
fold the closure element down into the can and to keep it attached
to the can end so it does not drop down into the contents of the
can.
A further objective of the invention is to provide adhesively
secured sealing means for the closure to give positive assurance
against leakage under pressure, and with very little force required
to open.
Another objective of the invention is to provide means to protect
against accidental opening during shipping and before use. A
further objective is to provide leverage means to assist the
opening operation for certain types of closure. One leverage means
also has the further advantage that it is unnecessary to push the
closure down into the can with the finger, with danger of it
getting stuck in the opening.
A further objective of the invention is to provide means by which
the closure can be cut from the can top, and then enlarged so when
positioned on the under side of the opening, it will not push up
through when the contents is under pressure. Also alternate means
are shown for reducing the size of the opening instead.
Still another objective of the invention is to provide sealing
means on the underside of the can top, comprising an easily broken
metal foil patch with adhesive attachment to the top and airtight
sealing.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a plug with
resilient gasket to fit the opening in the can top, and which is
placed in position from below so it can withstand internal
pressure. It also has attachment means to the can top.
Another objective of the invention is to construct the closure so
it can be opened as a slide with sealing means underneath, and with
the slide closure remaining on the outside of the container, and
attached to it after opening.
Another objective of the invention is to define the openable
segment partly by score lines and partly by a through cut, which
makes it easy to start the opening, and with adhesive line or foil
patch sealing of the through cut areas.
Another objective of the invention is to provide leverage means to
start opening a segment defined by an interrupted score line, and
with the leverage arm and the segment both remaining attached to
the container top after opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objectives and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the description given in the specification and by
reference to the following drawings:
FIG. 1 is an elevation of a container with a closure shown in
cross-section which is made in accordance with this invention, and
which is shown in the opened position, with the closure remaining
attached.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a container showing one type of closure
arrangement in the closed position, and which is in accordance with
this invention.
FIG. 3 is a view of the FIG. 2 type of closure, but viewed from the
under side of the can top.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a cross-section showing the method of cutting the closure
tab from the can top for the type of closure shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is a cross-section showing the second step in forming the
ribs for the FIG. 2 closure to make the opening smaller than the
tab closure piece.
FIG. 8 is a cross-section showing an alternative method, in which
the tab is made wider than the opening in the can top.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of a can top in which the
closure tab is widened in several places by pressing.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a can top incorporating an alternative
method of constructing a button type closure, with a plug and
gasket arrangement.
FIG. 11 is a cross-section taken along line 11--11 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a cross-section showing still another configuration of
the opening in the can and the tab for a FIG. 2 type of
closure.
FIG. 13 is a cross-section showing the FIG. 12 configuration
assembled in the can top.
FIG. 14 is a view of a pressure sealing patch used to cover the
under side of the closure area to prevent leakage.
FIG. 15 is a cross-section taken along line 15--15 of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a plan view of a can end showing still another closure
means in keeping with the invention, and with closure sealed by
adhesive.
FIG. 17 is a cross-section taken along line 17--17 of FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 is a plan view of a can end showing leverage means to
assist in opening the closure.
FIG. 19 is a cross-section taken along line 19--19 of FIG. 18.
FIG. 20 is a plan view of a can end in which mechanical means are
provided to assist in pressing down the closure button.
FIG. 21 is a view of a can end with a removable adhesive patch over
the top of the closure to prevent premature opening and to give
protection from contamination.
FIG. 22 is a view of a can top end showing a locking device for the
openable segment to prevent premature opening.
FIG. 23 is a cross-section taken along line 23--23 of FIG. 22,
showing further details of construction.
FIG. 24 is a view of a can end showing another form of opening
device in accordance with the invention, and which comprises a
sliding gate arrangement.
FIG. 25 is a cross-section taken along line 25--25 of FIG. 24,
showing how the gate is mounted and sealed against leakage.
FIG. 26 is a cross-section taken along line 26--26 of FIG. 24, and
gives further details on the gate arrangement.
FIG. 27 is a view of a can top end and shows another variation in
accordance with the invention, and one in which the segment outline
is partly score line and partly cut through the top material.
FIG. 28 is a view of a can top with a segment defined by a score
line, and with leverage means to start fracture of the score line,
and push button means to complete the opening operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a typical can or
container with an opening device in accordance with my invention
and shown in its opened position. The container wall 20 is fastened
to the top 21 by rolled joint 22. The openable segment 23 is shown
bent down and still attached to the can top by uncut part 26. The
raised boss on the tab assists in pushing the segment down to open,
cutting the aluminum foil sealing patch 24, which is held and
sealed to the can top by circle of adhesive 28. The tab has a sharp
edge 27 to move easily start cutting the foil, leaving strip 24a of
the foil on the can top. Raised rib 25 served to support one edge
of the tab against internal pressure in the can.
FIG. 2 shows an end view of can 30 with top 31, raised ribs 33 and
34 on the top alongside and overlapping the tab, raised boss 36 on
the tab, tab 32 which is punched cut from the top 31, except for
connecting strip 35, and sealing patch 37 underneath where it is
fastened and sealed to the underside of top 31 by adhesive ring 38.
FIG. 3 is a view of the underside of the cover showing patch 37,
adhesive ring 38, tab 32 and supplementary adhesive area 39. Patch
37 may preferably be of aluminum foil, and the adhesive may be of
the hot melt type. By adhesively attaching the patch to the tab at
39, the patch is cut away more cleanly when the tab is depressed to
open. The patch of aluminum foil is air tight to prevent leakage,
and since the tab can not move up under internal pressure, it
serves to support the foil also against rupture from internal
pressure.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2, and
shows overlapping raised ribs 33a and 34a, and tab 32a with boss
36a. The aluminum foil patch 37a is held by adhesive ring 38a. FIG.
5 shows a cross-section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2, with the
tab in the closed position, and with can wall 30b, can top 31b, tab
32b with boss 36b, rib 33b, and patch 37b held by adhesive line
38b. The can is opened by pushing down on the boss 36b of the tab
32b, the sharpened protruding edge 27b of the tab cutting the
aluminum foil with very little effort.
As shown in FIG. 4, the tab is wider than the opening in the top to
resist inner pressure in the can from raising the tab or straining
tha aluminum foil. Since the tab is cut from the can top, and would
be slightly smaller than the opening, sequential pressing operation
is required as shown in FIG. 6, 7 and 8, to either reduce the width
of the opening, or increase the width of the tab.
FIG. 6 is a cross-section through a rib and the adjoining edge of
the tab, similar to FIG. 4, and shows the method of forming. An
upper die cutting blade 40 has cut rib 34c from tab 32c at 42, and
opposing die member 41 supports the piece while it is being cut.
This section can be taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 2. The tab boss
is 36c. A second press operation is shown in FIG. 7 and is taken
also along line 4--4 of FIG. 2. A press die 44, with opposing die
45, lowers and spreads the previously formed narrow rib to width
34d, so the right edge of the rib moves over to overlap the tab at
43, The tab boss is 36d. An alternative way to make the width of
the tab greater than the opening in the top is shown in FIG. 8. In
this case the boss on the tab is initially formed higher than
required and the crown lowered to 36e in a second pressing
operation, spreading the tab 32e width to overlap the opening in
cover 31e at 46. These views show the operation for one edge, and
the other edge of the tab is formed the same, simultaneously. The
can top is made of relatively soft aluminum, and the formation of
ribs by pressing does not significantly reduce the strength of the
top, even though the thickness of the metal is reduced to a small
degree. Actually the ribs increase the rigidity of the top.
FIG. 9 show another way to cut the tab from the top of the can, and
to enlarge its area so when positioned under the can top it resists
internal pressure. A tab 50 is cut from cover 55, and has three
extensions 51, 52 and 53 around its periphery, which are formed by
impact in a press, spreading the metal in the tab outwardly to form
the projections, as shown. The tab remains attached to 55 at
54.
FIG. 10 show a plan view of a can top with an alternative method of
constucting a plug closure in keeping with this invention. FIG. 11
is a cross-section taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10.
Referring to FIG. 11, a round opening 61a with curved edges is
press formed in the top 60a of the can. A plug 63a is made of
aluminum and a circular gasket 62a is adhesively attached to the
plug. The gasket may be of polyvinyl chloride. The plug is sized to
fit snugly in the hole with the gasket forming the seal. Pressure
from inside the can increases the sealing effect. The plug should
be formed to give resilience to compression, and it should have an
extending tab 64a which is adhesively secured to the under side of
the can top by adhesive 65a. When the plug is pushed in to dispense
the can contents, it swings down and is held from dropping by the
tab extension. The plug 63a can also be plastic.
FIG. 10 shows this design in plan view. The can top 60 has opening
61 filled by plug 63 and sealed by gasket 62. Extension 64 is held
to the under side of the can top by adhesive 65.
FIG. 12 shows a variation in forming the tab used in the design
shown in FIG. 2. The can top 70 has two raised ribs 71 and 74 which
have been spread inwardly to reduce the width of the opening so tab
75, which was cut from the metal of the top can not move up through
under pressure. In this variation the legs of the ribs are raised
upward so the bottom of the tab and the bottom of the can end are
level in line. 73 is a boss to facilitate pushing the tab down.
FIG. 13 is a cross-section which shows the FIG. 12 configuration
completed. Can end 76 has rib 78 which prevents the tab from moving
up by overlapping its long edge. 80 is an aluminum foil patch under
the openable area. It is sealed by hot melt adhesive ring 81 and
82. The tab 79 is flush with the can top, and it has boss 77. The
aluminum foil is also adhesively attached to the under side of the
tab at 83 to insure the right hand edge of the tab shearing the
aluminum foil when it is pushed down, and preventing the foil from
stretching and slipping rather than cutting through at the outer
end of the tab to leave the opening clear of foil.
FIG. 14 shows an aluminum foil patch 84, which has been pressed to
raise two ribs 85 and 86. FIG. 15 is a cross-section taken along
line 15--15 of FIG. 14, and shows disc 84a with raised ribs 85a and
86a. When the patch is applied to the under side of a can top, the
ribs are aligned with the side edges of the opening. They provide
slack in the foil, so when the tab is pushed down to open the can,
there is no resistance along the side edges, and only at the end.
This reduces the amount of pressure required to push the tab down
and break the foil.
FIG. 16 is a view of a can top 90 illustrating another form of the
invention. A partial hole 91 with rounded edges is punched in the
top. The cut extends almost all the way around the circumference,
but a narrow section 92 is left uncut to serve as a support when
the plug 97 is pushed down to open the container. In a secondary
press operation the edges of the central cut-out are expanded
outward by impact at three points, 93, 94, and 95. This enlargement
of the plug provides engagement with the circular wall of the
opening to prevent the plug from moving upward under pressure built
up in the can. FIG. 17 is a cross-section taken along line 17--17
of FIG. 16, and shows can top 90a, circular cut-out 97a with raised
center, and overlap 94a to hold the plug from upward movement. The
plug is sealed around its outer edge by adhesive at 96a in FIG. 17,
and 96 in FIG. 16. The adhesive may be of the hot melt type, and
formulated for limited strength so the button can be pushed down
easily with the finger to open the can. It is held in the
hinged-down position by connection 92 after opening.
Means for reducing the strength of adhesives are well known in the
art. A hot melt adhesive can be reduced in strength by gassing to
give it a foamed composition. The weakened adhesive may be used all
the way around the periphery of the segment, or it may be confined
to an area where initial opening pressure is to be applied. If
plastisol adhesives are used, foamed plastisol may be used in the
initial opening area, and Normandy U.S. Pat. No. 3,002,641 fully
describes how to prepare and apply such adhesives.
When a plug is sealed in an opening in a container top by an
adhesive, it is found that the preferred and easiest opening
procedure is to concentrate pressure at one point in the periphery.
Once the break starts at this focal point, the rest of the glue
line shears off very easily. FIG. 18 is a plan view of can top 101,
which has a punched rounded edge hole 102 arranged for an opening
for the container for pouring out the contents or drinking direct
form the can. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line
19--19 of FIG. 18, and shows a raised plug 106a, with outer skirt
103a which is larger than the opening in the top 101a, and the plug
has an extension 105a which is adhesively secured to the under side
of the top. The joint between the plug and the top is sealed by
adhesive along line 104a. FIG. 18 shows these respective parts at
102, 103, 104, 105, and 106, and also shows a ring pull member 107,
which is fastened to top 101 by integral rivet 108, and has an
extension 109 arranged to press downward with high leverage when
the ring is raised. It presses at one point on the plug periphery
and starts the break in the adhesive line holding the plug. In FIG.
19 these parts are 107a, 108a, and 109a.
FIG. 20 shows can top 130 with plug 135, which has a lower skirt
larger than the circular opening in the top, and sealed against
leakage by adhesive 138. There is a raised point 136 on the top of
the plug. An opening bar 131 is provided to make opening easier. It
has finger operating extension 132, and is mounted to swivel on
integral rivet 133, which is drawn from the cover material external
of the opening. Bar 131 has extension 134 to exert pressure against
the can top to obtain leverage to press against the plug without
tilting the rivet. When arm 131 is moved in the direction of the
arrow, shoulder 137 presses first against the crown of the plug,
starting to break the adhesive line at this point. Further movement
of the bar brings the under side of 131 up against crown 136, and
this pushes the plug down into the can, where it hangs tilted and
held by an adhesively anchored extension, not shown, but similar to
that shown in FIG. 18 at 105.
FIG. 21 shows a patch 124 of paper or foil held by pressure
sensitive adhesive to the top surface over an opening arrangement
such as the one shown in FIG. 2. It serves two purposes, one to
keep the area clean where the lips contact it, and the other to
prevent pressure from above encountered during shipping and
handling from pushing the tab down prematurely.
FIG. 22 illustrates a tab safety locking means. It shows can top
140 with openable tab 141, ribs 144, and swivel locking arm 143
mounted on integral rivet 145 which is drawn from the metal of the
tab. FIG. 23 is a cross-section taken along line 23--23 of FIG. 22.
It shows arm 143a on rivet 145a, can top 140a, tab 141a, and the
shoulder of the top at 146a, where the locking arm engages the
shoulder so the tab can not be pushed down inadvertantly. To open
the can, the locking arm is first rotated 180.degree., and then the
tab pushed down. The tab may be sealed by a patch underneath as
previously described.
Another method of opening a pressure container, and in which the
opening member stays adhered to the can, is shown in FIG. 24,
viewed from the top. A can top 150 has a metallic slide member 152,
arranged to slide in frame 151. To open the can the slide is drawn
over in the direction of the arrow by pulling on ring 154 far
enough to expose a pouring or drinking rectangular opening. In this
position the slide stays fastened to the can top. At the same time
it can be closed again, but not pressure sealed. By making 151 an
inserted piece, the can top may be of steel, and 151 of aluminum.
Alternatively, the can top may be aluminum, and with the slide
guides formed directly in the can top material.
Further details are shown in FIG. 25, which is a cross-section
taken along line 25--25 in FIG. 24, and FIG. 26, a cross-section
along line 26--26 of FIG. 24. An aluminum frame 151 is fitted in a
rectangular opening in the can top. Referring to FIG. 25, frame
151a has a lower groove 163a around four sides and is sealed to top
150a by adhesive 162a. This frame is formed with an upper groove
164a which extends around three sides, but not on the short side at
the can center. The metal slide 152a slides in this groove, and has
ring end 154a. Referring to FIG. 24, the slide has two turned down
legs at 157 and 158 which serve to break aluminum foil patch 156 as
the slide starts to move.
FIG. 26 is a section taken along line 26--26 of FIG. 24. It shows
legs 157b and 158b, and the aluminum foil patch is at 156b, held to
top 150b by adhesive line 159b around its periphery. There may also
be a metal point formed at 161a, FIG. 25 protruding from frame 151a
on the under side to help start a break in the aluminum with light
pulling pressure on ring 154a. The foil is also adhered to 152a at
160a, so as the slide moves out it carries the inner piece of foil
with it, and legs 157 and 158 shear the thin foil along the sides
of the opening. A weak adhesive is placed at 155a, FIG. 25 to
prevent the possibility of anything from the outside getting under
the slide, and if desired a light wax coating can be placed along
the top outside edges of the slide to keep out any foreign
substances.
Still another means to construct the push down segmental
arrangement is shown in FIG. 27, which is a plan view of the can
top 170. Two score lines 171 and 179 are cut in the metal of the
can top. Connecting directly to the ends of the score lines is cut
172, which extends through the thickness of the top. The cut is
across the end of the segment and part way up the sides, up to
point 173 of score line 171. A boss 175 is formed in the segment
and serves a a point on which to exert a pushing pressure with the
finger to open the segment. A small bump is formed initially at 180
in the segment, and it is then flattened out after the end cut is
made, and with the end of the segment slightly depressed, causing
the metal of the segment to extend out at 178. Extension 178 is now
just below the metal at the edge of the can top, and it serves to
resist internal pressure from pushing the segment up. There can be
several extensions similar to 178, or a rib can be pressed in to
overlap as in FIG. 7. The open cut 172 is sealed on the under side
by an aluminum foil patch 176 adhesively attached to the under side
of the top, or alternatively the cut 172 can be sealed by adhesive,
preferably on the under side.
This segment is opened by pushing on the boss 175, breaking the
foil, and then shearing the metal of the top along the two score
lines. After the segment is pushed down, unscored area 177 holds it
in its inclined position within the can. By providing a through cut
as a starter, it takes much less pressure to shear along a score
line. For instance, once the shear is started in this way, it takes
only 4 to 5 pounds pressure to push a segment down and shear the
two score lines. In the can opening means in common use heretofore,
where the score is continuous around the periphery of the segment,
it takes 20 to 25 pounds pressure to start a break in the score
line, even at the very small arc where the integral rivet and
pressure point is usually located near the center of the can.
Another design in keeping with the invention is shown in FIG. 28. A
container top 190 has an openable segment 202 defined by a score
line 196 which extends around the periphery of the segment except
at point 197, where a narrow band of metal remains intact when the
closure is opened to support the segment tilted down within the
container. A raisable leverage ring arm 191 is secured to the can
top by integral rivet 192, which is formed just outside the segment
at the score line, and which continues to hold the arm 191 after
the segment is opened. It is folded back flat to facilitate
drinking from the can.
The score line is brought very close to the rivet, preferably
around it, and legs 194 and 195 of the ring arm press with high
leverage against the end of the segment when the ring is raised,
causing the score line to break, and the end of the segment to move
down. Once fracture occurs, the reminder of the segment is pushed
down easily by pressing on boss 201. Ribs 198, 191 and 200
reinforce the rivet and ribs 203 protect the sharp edge at the
segment opening.
The top surface score near the rivet may be supplemented with a
score line on the under side of the top to make opening easier, as
described in my Pat. No. 3,411,661.
In the claims, the term "segment" means a removable or partially
removable area of any shape, and it may be located in the top or
wall of the container. The term "score line" refers to a weakened
line formed by thinning the material. The term container "top"
applies to the openable wall even though the container may be
stored with this side in some other position.
The top may be of aluminum, steel, or plastic.
In some of the method of claims the plane surface of the container
top is subjected to a press forming operation to give a desired
surface contour. In usual machine shop practise this may be
accomplished in two steps rather than one. The first step is to
press form a bulge, or mound, over the affected area. This press
operation serves to generate extra material for the next step, and
such extra material comes from reducing the thickness uniformly
over the area of the mound. In this way very little thickness
reduction results. In the second pressing operation the desired
off-set contour around the periphery is formed, and a push button
bulge can also be formed at the same time in the segment to
facilitate pushing the segment down with the finger when opening.
It is understood that in the method claims, where a forming
operation is called for, it can comprise a plurality of steps as
described above, or may be done in a single step.
It will be apparent that while I have shown and described the
invention in several preferred forms, changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined
in the following claims.
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