US2070881A - Cover construction for containers - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1937 G. F. BRAWN COVER CONSTRUCTION FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 15, 1935 IHVENTOR;

Patented Feb. 16, I 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,010,881 covna cons'muc'rion roa commas Guy F. Brawn, South Portland, Maine Application January 15, 1935, Serial No. 1,919 3 Claima, (or 220-48) The invention hereinafter to be described relates, in general terms, to containers, such for instance as are, used in marketing food and other products.

The invention deals more specifically with the elected to choose the ordinary sardine can as the vehicle in connection with which toillustrate and describe it. I wish it understood, however, that I do not restrict myself to this'particular form of application as the invention is capable of use and interpretation'in various other structures.

Sardine cans, like many other carriers of products, may be and in the past have been quite commonly opened by using any one of. various type of can-openers.

These tools have almost invariably operated on the principle of first puncturing the cover at one point, and from that 10- cation shearing the metalplate along the marginal portion of seam.

Can manufacturers now supply covers the cover, close to the locking the diaphragm portion of which can be stripped from the marginal portions without resort to canopeners just referred to; and it is with this particular form of cover, but with improvements incorporated therein, that the present invention is concerned.

In producing covers deep score is made on face, preferably the inner, and this score line of the stripping type a either the outer or inner extends generally completely around the margin of the cover, somewhat weakening the plate on the score. line.

In certain types of scored covers, however, more or less trouble arises, particularly-when the puncture is made on the scored line, in starting the stripping operation.

when punctured at both sides of the score the interior of the can the above mentioned point,

turn inwardly, or toward body, and it is frequently difficult to straighten the side of the portion to be stripped so that it tears away from the marginal portions of the cover satisfactorily.

. In the present invention I have sought to overcome this deficiency by one entirely outside the portion score, but in employing two score lines, main or removable-coverclose proximity thereto.

, of the cover it drawn to a somewhat enlarged line 3, is the part of the cover to be removed when This smaller, or primary score line permits the strippingtool to pass into the body of the can without effect on the main score line. Once the key, or stripping tool, passes below the plane can easily be tilted under the 5 main' score line, raising the end of the portion to be stripped to anoint where it can easily be engaged by the stripping implement and removed from the main portion of the cover.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated what, at the present time, I consider a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in the drawing, in which like parts are identified by similar characters of reference,-

Fig. l is a perspective view of a sardine can with a cover scored in accordance with my in- .vention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same,

scale;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 except with reference to the small, or primary scored line;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the stripping key;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the stripper ke Fig. 5a. is like Fig. 5 except that the end is shown square instead of bevelled;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 2;

. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show the various steps in the preliminary stripping operation;

Fig. 10 is a. fragmentary perspective view, part-- ly in section, showing a stripping key mounted on a can, with the cover thereof ready to be stripped, and

Fig. 11 is a section on line "-4 I, Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, I represents a sardine can and-2 the cover therefor. The cover is secured to the body of the can by a locked seam S, and may, of course, .be removed therefrom by the use of the conventional metal-shearing tool which formerly constituted the only means for accomplishing this object.

But can covers are now made which may be removed in a much simpler manner, involving the sinking of a relatively deep score around the marginal portions of the cover, this score 3, in the sardine can conforming quite closely to the shape of the can, which in this type of container is generally rectangu ar.

The portion 2a., which is enclosed by the score.

about to gain access to the product in the can, and on one end of this removable portion is a by the score line.

the'tongue 4 and the lock tongue 4, also enclosed Between the end 'of seam S is a smaller score 5. which for identiflca- 56 up'with the food or other product.

tion purposes I will score, the longer or acterlzed as the secon As illustrated in Fig. 2 the primary score is made semi-circular in shape, with the rounded part adjacent the tongue 4. This primary score may be made straight, as shown in Fig. 3, but for practical purposes I prefer the circular form as it is better adapted to centraiire the stripping tool and keep it in alignment with the tongue during the stripping operation. which will shortly be described.

In Fig. 4 I show a stripper key 8 having a slot 1 and a wedge-shape point 6a. InFig. 5a. there is shown a key end square, instead of bevelling. Either of these keys will serve for the purpose of making the initial puncture, but the wedge-shape rder score I being charscore.

I prefer insofar as its practicability is concerned.

In using the stripper key for the purpose of removing the diaphragm portion 2a of the cover, the first operation consists in puncturing the cover within the score linel, as depicted in Fig.

7. It will be observed that the lip or tongue I is sheared downwardly.

but not severed from the main portion of the cover which, if it were, would present difliculty in the severed piece being mixed The next operation, shown in Fig. 8, contemplatesv breaking through the narrow section of plate at 8 by levering the stripper key over the top of the seam S, which latter serves as a very convenient fulcrum. Besides breaking through the portion ,8, this operation starts the upward turn of the tongue 4 and starts to sever it by stripping from the adjoining portion of the nonremovable-part of the cover. Continuing the depressing-movement of the key brings its point position, with respect to the cover. The stripper key is then placed over the cover, as shown in Fig. 10, with the slot enclosmanipulating the key by dicated by arrow A the portion in will be wound into a roll. as shown in dotted lines at :r; and

continuing the rotating movement of the key it dimclilt has become stripped will advance in the direction indicatedby arrow B until the complete inner portionof the cover from the marginal portions thereof.

'I'he first essential requirement in stripping the the cover from the nondetachable part is to start the connection with'the remainder of the cover.

I have found that used on the score line 3; as

tion of the key overv it when at its marginal portions, a

tongue 4 from its tour of the long,

score being employed'to assist in puncturing said subsequentlyto insert the "slotted por-Y I 9,070,881 refer to as the primary With the present of the cover is made so close to the seam that away from its connection with the adjacent part of the cover, and rise in a substantially straight condition, making it convenient and possible to apply the slotted key thereto.

It will be noted that the portions 3:: of the score line 3 diverge from the tongue 4 and then -merge, into the longitudinal lines of the score in a curve 3b.

In my present conception the primary score 5 is so disposed on the imity to said seam on three sides of the coverand further removed from the seam on the fourth side thereof, the score on the fourth side being irregular and including a tongue-shape contouredportion, and a short length score disposed on said cover between said tongue-shape portion of the first mentioned score and said seam, the two said scores being separate and disconnected, relatively.

2. A can cover adapted to be secured to a can score made in said cover surrounding a portion adapted to be stripped from'said cover incident to the opening of said can, a second, semi-circular score sunk into said cover, outside and independent of said first mentioned score, a tongue-shape extension, the margins of which are included in the outline of said first mentioned score, disposed contiguous to said second score whereby in the preliminary 3. A cover structure for containers adapted to 1 be secured at endless score, said semi-circular cover whereby said tongue-shape portion may be raised by stripping, the pressure being applied from the under side with a stripping tool.v

GUY r. nnawn.

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