U.S. patent number 3,924,777 [Application Number 05/438,910] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-09 for non-detachable easy open flap and tab assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Continental Can Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to Harry A. Peyser.
United States Patent |
3,924,777 |
Peyser |
December 9, 1975 |
Non-detachable easy open flap and tab assembly
Abstract
A container end panel having a non-detachable flap portion
partially severable from the panel to provide an opening. The flap
portion is recessed below the remainder of the panel and is broken
away by a fitment which fits into the recess. The fitment is
adapted to be pushed inwardly and after rupturing the score between
the panel and the flap functions to swing the flap inwardly about a
hinge formed by an unscored portion of metal connecting the flap to
the panel. The fitment is pressed into the opening and snaps within
the opening and provides a guard shielding the users finger from
the ragged metal at the tear edge about the opening. The invention
is primarily directed to a formation of the inner edge of the ring
to facilitate rupturing the score and thereafter swinging the panel
inwardly.
Inventors: |
Peyser; Harry A. (Olympia
Fields, IL) |
Assignee: |
Continental Can Company, Inc.
(New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23742528 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/438,910 |
Filed: |
February 1, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/277; 222/81;
426/131; 426/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
17/521 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
41/02 (20060101); B65D 041/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/27,44,47,48,51,265,266,267,277,278,282,283 ;222/541,81 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Price; William I.
Assistant Examiner: Hart; Ro E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kowalik; John J. Kerwin; Joseph E.
Dihmann; William A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In an easy opening container having an end panel with a score
defining a flap adapted to be torn away from the panel to provide
an opening, said flap being offset from the panel in a recess
formed therein,
an opener comprising a tubular element adapted to fit into the
recess and superposed with respect to said flap and in axial
alignment therewith and having a plurality of spaced diametrically
opposed lance points in alignment with said score for rupturing the
score in areas thereadjacent, an anchor strap on the element in
radial alignment with one of said lance points and including means
for hingedly connecting said element to said panel, said one lance
point serving as a fulcrum for said element upon application of
digital force against said element over another point diametrically
opposed to said one point, said another point being aligned with
said one point and said anchor strap so that upon application of
said force said strap will be loaded in tension and said one point
in compression thereby effecting a canting action of the element,
both of said points being of equal depth.
2. The invention according to claim 1 and said points being
uniformly spaced from each other, and said one and another of said
points constituting a pair of points and being of greater depth
than the other points and said pair of points being located
diametrically opposite each other.
3. The invention according to claim 1 and said score being
interrupted and said panel thereat providing a hinge section
connecting the flap to the panel, and said one of said points
overlying the unscored hinge section and another of said points
being diametrically spaced therefrom and overlying said score, said
unscored hinge section resisting puncture by said one point and
causing said element to cant while progressively rupturing the
score toward the hinge section.
4. The invention according to claim 3 and said one and other point
being of greater depth than the intervening points whereby upon
said opener being pushed against the score said score is first
broken at a point diametrically opposite to said hinge section and
is caused to progress therefrom to said hinge section attendant to
the score being sequentially ruptured by said intervening
points.
5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said tubular element
is dimensioned to fit tightly with said opening.
6. The invention according to claim 5 and cam areas on said tubular
element located between the intervening points and said one and
other points.
7. The invention according to claim 6 and said cam areas being
concave in cross-section.
8. The invention according to claim 7 and said tubular element
being essentially cylindrical and said intervening points
comprising a pair located diametrically opposite each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many attempts have been recently made to provide an ecologically
acceptable container opener wherein the parts are not separable
from the container. Recent interest is dominated by the push-in
types in which the end panel of the container is partially scored
and the resulting flap is adapted to be pressed into the container.
One of the principal problems has been in either reducing the force
required to rupture the score or in providing a leverage mechanism
which is unobtrusive and will not interfere with drinking directly
from the can. At the same time, the structure must be economically
feasible. Furthermore, there is objection by users to pushing their
fingers into the contents of the can.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a novel non-detachable push-in easy
opening closure for the end panel of a can and which precludes the
necessity for the user inserting his finger into the can.
A specific object is to provide such closure formed by partially
severing a portion from the can end to leave the portion attached
thereto by a hinge, the portion being engaged peripherally by a
tubular opener which is adapted to be pushed inwardly by the user
pressing thereagainst.
Another object is to provide an edge on the opener bearing against
the closure portion with a plurality of lancing points arranged to
initially concentrate the opening force in a limited area to
minimize the rupturing force and then functioning to progressively
rupture the score and to bend the closure portion into the can away
from the opening.
Another object is to provide a novel opener of the type described
in which the inner edge of the opener is provided with four equally
spaced lance points, two of which are deeper then the intervening
two and so arranged to assist in rupturing the score in strategic
areas to minimize the push-in pressure required to open the
can.
A further feature of the invention is to devise a novel easy
opening closure which incorporates a punch type tubular opener
which is provided with a cam cutting edge.
A further object is to provide a novel opener as defined which is
tethered to the container.
The invention also comprehends the use of the tubular opener in
close fitting association, with the edge of the opening and which
has a multi-point cutting edge so that it serves a dual function,
not only rupturing the score, but also as a means for swinging the
closure flap into the container.
Another object is to provide a novel ring-type opener in which the
lower edge of the ring is contoured to provide a plurality of
lancing points and intervening cam areas for engagement with the
flap therebeneath to swing it away from the opening in response to
inward movement of the ring.
These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed
by the invention will become more readily apparent from the
specifications and the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container taken from
its top end incorporating the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top end view of the structure;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on
line 3--3 of FIG. 2 showing the closed position of the parts; FIG.
4 is a bottom view of the opener;
FIG. 5 is a view comparable to FIG. 3 showing the closure partially
open, and
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the parts in open
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiment is herein shown in association with a metal can
generally designated 2 comprising a body side wall 3, and end panel
4 having a chuck wall 5 joined to the body by a chime 6. The end
panel 4 is formed in an area between the center and the chuck wall
with an annular rim 8 which has a peripheral fruto-conical side
wall 9 adjoining at its upper edge a preferably flat web 11 which
is formed on its upper side with an antirupture V-score 12. The web
11 adjoins a downwardly coned inner wall 13' which at its base is
formed with the crush score 14, said score 14 partially encircling
an annular downwardly dished flap 13. The uncrushed area provides a
hinge portion 15 which connects the flap with the end panel wherein
the flap is torn away from the panel and pushed into the container
as hereinafter described.
The flap 13 is opened by a tab 17 which has an anchor lug 18 at one
end and a ring 20 at its other end. The Z-shaped anchor strap 18 is
preferably fastened at its distal end portion 22 to a rivet 23
formed in the center of the end panel. The portion 22 is connected
to one end of a diagonal upwardly sloping web portion 24 which is
in turn connected to one end of a horizontal portion 25 the other
end of which is integral with a peripheral edge of an annular
horizontally disposed flange 26 of the ring portion of the tab. The
flange 26 is slightly diametrically larger than the uppermost
diameter of the depression or cavity 28 (FIG. 2) as defined by the
inner web 13 of the rim and has a center opening 29 which is
coaxial with a bore 30 of a cylindrical ring or tube 32 which is
integral with the flange and depends therefrom and in normal
position has its lower edge portion nested within the widest upper
portion of the cacity 28 defined by the web 13 of the rim.
The ring 32 is spaced with its lower-edge slightly above the score
14 and is dimensioned to fit thereinto. The lower edge is scalloped
and has four equally spaced lances or points comprising front and
rear points 34, 35 and lateral points 36, 36. The ring is of equal
depth at the hinge and at point 34 and the points 36, 36 are of
slightly less depth. Point 34 is adapted upon pressure being
applied to the upper end 38 of the tab at an area diametrically
opposite to the hinge to rupture the score 14; further pressure
causing the flap to be depressed whereupon the cam portions 39, 39
of the lower edge contact the upper edge 41 of the score and
progressively tear the flap away from the panel until the points
36, 36 are reached whereupon points 36 pierce the score and further
depression of the opener engages cam edges 40, 40 with the adjacent
portions to the score depressing it until point 35 is reached.
Point 35 does not break through since the hinge area has no score
but merely bends the hinge down. The ring is pushed in until the
bottom edge 44 of the upper flange rests upon the upper edge 45 of
the top web 11 of the rim 8. As the ring portion is being moved
inwardly, the anchor strap 18 is bent or deformed, but not broken.
As best seen in FIG. 3 the tubular portion fits tightly in the pour
opening 42 and the portion 32 of the opener serves as a pour
spout.
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