US2085200A - Closed container such as preserving cans - Google Patents

Description

June 29, 1937. E. LJUNGSTROM C IQbSED CONTAINER SUCH AS PRESERVING CANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1934 June 29, 1937. E. LJUNGSTRCM QNOSED CONTAINER SUCH AS PRESERVING CANS Filed March 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZZ-527:5

ATTORNE June 29, 1937. LJUNGSTRQM 4 2,085,200

CLOSED CONTAINER sucn AS PRESERVING CANS Filed March 6, 1934' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I ENTOR J ATTDRNEY June 29, 1937. E. LJUNGSTROM 2,085,200

CLOSED CONTAINER SUCH AS PRESERVING CANS Filed March a, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A 7 Ely-14 4 64 fi. ATTORNEY Patented June 29, 1937 CLOSED CONTAINER SUCH AS PRESERVING CANS Erik Ljungstriim, LidingmBrevik, Sweden, as-

signor to Aktiebolaget Transitoria, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Application March 6, 1934, Serial No. 714,217 In Sweden March 8, 1933 14 Claims.

My present invention relates to containers such as preserving cans or boxes and has particularly reference to hermetically sealed metal containers of the type adapted to be opened by tearing ofi a portion of the wall of the container, usually the cover, hereinafter termed the tearing portion, said portion being defined for example by a weakened line or lines, hereinafter termed tearing line.

The general object of my invention is to provide improved means for opening containers of the type described which improved means ensures a reliable opening under all conditions of operation. Generally speaking, I attain the above and other more detailed objects by the provision of two members adapted to act as levers, the one, hereinafter termed the tearing member, being permanently secured to the tearing portion preferably adjacent to the tearing line, and the other, hereinafter termed the key, connected to or connectible with said tearing member and adapted on rupturing the tearing line to move always in a plane perpendicular to that of the tearing portion and to bear on the body wall portion of the container outside said tearing portion. Preferably the tearing member is so arranged as to effect, when being operated by the key, rupture of the wall of the container, for example along said tearing line, in upward direction, and the lever members, that is the tearing member and the key, may be so arranged in relation to each other as to move in opposite directions, when the key is operated to open the container.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved opening means of the type described in which the connection between the opening key and the tearing member is of the hinge type and in which said connection or joint is situated obliquely above and outside the intended place of rupture, usually the tearing line.

A still further object of my invention is to provide improved opening means of the type described in which the key and the tearing member are so combined and arranged in relation to the intended place of rupture that on operating the key the sheet material at said place will be subjected to a double lever action. I can attain this object by locating the fulcra or axes of rotation of the levers on opposite sides of the place of rupture or tearing line. The key may act as a singlearmed lever or as a double-armed lever, that is, the point of action of the force and the fulcrum may be located either on opposite sides or on the same side of the place of rupture.

The general nature of the invention and the details thereof will be more fully apparent as the ensuing description of suitable forms of apparatus for carrying the invention into effect proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a container having opening means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line II-II in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections similar to Fig. 2 showing the opening members in various positions.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a container having opening means according to another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line VIVI in Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections similar to Fig. 6 showing the opening members in various positions.

Fig. 9 is a. perspective view of a container having opening means according to a third embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 showing the opening members in another position.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a container having opening means according to a fourth embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the line XII--XII in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fig. 12 showing the opening members in another position.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a container having opening means according to a fifth embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on the line XV-XV in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section taken on the line XVI-XVI in Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of a container having opening means according to a sixth embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section taken on line XVIII-XVIII in Fig. 1'7.

In all embodiments shown in the drawings reference numeral 28 designates the body wall portion of the container which is in the form of the usual metal preserving can and which may in known manner be manufactured of sheet metal of a thickness of about 0.2 mm. to 0.4 mm., usually 0.3 mm. A cover 22 is secured to the body portion 26, for instance by being bent around the upper edge thereof in the usual manner of manufacture of containers of this character. A strip of rubber or the like may be interposed in the fold 24 between the body wall portion and the cover 22 so as to eifect a fully closed sealing of the can.

Provided in the cover 22 is a tearing line 26, for example scored or depressed in the material or produced in any other suitable manner. This tearing line 26 limits the tearing portion 28 of the cover, that is the portion to be torn off when opening the container, the remaining fixed portion 30 of the cover forming part of the body wall portion of the container. In the drawings the tearing line 26 follows the fold 24 of the can on three sides thereof and is on the fourth side rounded, for example in the form of a semicircle, but it is evident that the tearing line may also have any other shape, as egg-shaped, circular, square etc. The tearing portion 28 may also have the form of a strip extending around the can or the cover, and limited, if desired by two tearing lines.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, 32 designates a tearing member, preferably of sheet metal, said member being adjacent to any suitable point of the tearing line 26, for instance the top of the semi-circular portion thereof, rigidly secured to the upper side of the tearing portion 28 in any suitable manner, as for instance by means of a rivet 34 extending through said tearing portion 28 and provided on the lower side thereof with a relatively large headed portion 35, preferably extending to the tearing line 26. The tearing member 32 serves in combination with the rivet head 36 as reinforcing means for the material of the tearing portion. A turned-up end portion 38 of the tearing member 32 extends beyond the tearing line 26 and is provided with lateral projections 40 in the form of pins or the like.

42 designates an opening key consisting of a metal rod or wire bent into the shape of a loop and formed with a grip 44 for the fingers. The ends of said key 42 are located adjacent to the lateral edges of the tearing member 32 and terminate in flattened end portions 45 fitting into the opening formed between the end portion 38 of the tearing member 32 and the cover 22. Preferably, said flattened end portions 44 have straight limiting edges 48 and 50 parallel to the fold 24, said latter edge 50 substantially coinciding with the inner edges of the projections 40 and forming together with said projections an articulated hinge-like joint between the lever members 32 and 42. This joint is located at a place spaced from the rivet 34 between the tearing member 32 and the tearing portion 28 and is obliquely or substantially directly above the tearing line 26. In this embodiment the lever members 32 and 42 are loosely connected with each other and kept together by the rivet 34 which connects the tearing member 32 rigidly with the tearing portion 28.

The opening apparatus is applied to the cover 22 by putting the end portions 46 of the key 42 into the opening between the cover 22 and the tearing member 32, the apparatus being then secured in position by the rivet 34. Or, the key 42 may be applied to the tearing member 32 after the latter has been applied to the cover 22. It is evident that members forming a still more hingelike joint may be substituted for the parts 48 and 58, as for instance a pin and socket joint or the like.

My new opening apparatus operates as follows. The, key 42 is grasped at the grip 44 and turned upwards in the direction of the arrow 52 in Fig. 3. This upward turning movement takes place with the limiting edge 48 as fulcrum or turning axis for the key which acts as a lever, said fulcrum lying in this case on the side of the tearing line 26 opposite to the point of action of the force executed by the fingers at the grip 44, that is the key acts as a single-armed lever. On turning the key upwards the sheet material of the fixed wall portion 30 outside the tearing line 26 is subjected to a downwardly directed force and simultaneously the sheet material of the tearing portion 28 inside said tearing portion 24 is subjected to an upwardly directed force as a result of the lever action of the tearing member 32 with its inner limiting edge 54 as fulcrum or axis of rotation. As seen, the fulcra or turning axes of the two levers 32 and 42 are situated on opposite sides of the tearing line 26. This double lever action exerts a large stress on the sheet material on opposite sides of the tearing line 26 resulting in a rupture along said line substantially adjacent to the outer limiting edge of the rivet head 38. Evidently, the direction of the stress in the tearing'line is the best possible, as the material will be subjected to a practically pure shearing action.

After initial rupturing of the tearing line 28 is effected the ruptured length thereof will be successively increased on account of the fact that during the upward movement of the key 42 the edge 48 acting as fulcrum or axis of rotation will slide more and more towards the tearing line. Evidently, this will facilitate the final opening which may be started when for example the key takes up the position in Fig. 3 and which is effected by a pull on the key as shown in Fig. 4.

On account of the hinge-like joint between the key 42 and the tearing member 32 and of the position of said joint in relation to the rivet 34 as well as on account of the double lever action as described above, the force to be executed in the grip 44 for effecting the initial rupture along the tearing line 26 and for widening the opening thus effected will, evidently, be very small ensuring a reliable rupture under all conditions of operation.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, the two lever members 32 and 42 of the opening apparatus are connected with each other by means of a pin and socket joint providing a journal connection between the two. The tearing member 32, rigidly connected to the tearing portion 28 by means of the rivet 34, is formed at the end extending beyond the tearing line 24 as a sleeve 56 serving as a bearing for the loop-shaped key 42 which enters said sleeve with both its ends 58. Also in this embodiment the hinge-like joint between the two opening members 32 and 42 is situated at a point spaced from the rivet 34 between the member 32 and the tearing portion 23 and is situated substantially above the tearing line 26. It may be observed that this hinged joint may be carried out in any other suitable manner, as for instance by the tearing member 32 being provided with pins entering corresponding sockets or grooves in the ends of the key.

In this embodiment the opening apparatus operates as follows: The key 42 is grasped at the grip 44 and turned in the direction of the arrow 60 in Fig. 7, until it bears on the fold 24 at a point intermediate its ends. On account of the key 42 being freely journalled in the sleeve 56 this turning movement does not result in any stress on the sheet material of the cover 22 or on that of the tearing portion 25. When the key is in the said position bearing on the fold 24 a slight pressure on the grip 44 will cause a large stress on the sheet material on opposite sides of the tearing line 26, resulting in a rupture along said line as the result of a double lever action, that is on the one hand the action of the tearing member 32 with its inner limiting edge 54 as a fulcrum or axis of rotation and on the other hand the action of the key 42 with the fold 24 as a fulcrum or axis of rotation. As far as the key 42 is concerned the point of action of the force (grip 44) and the fulcrum (fold 24) are, contrary to the preceding embodiment, situated on the same side of the tearing line 26, that is the key 42 acts as a double-armed lever.

Instead of utilizing the fold 24 as fulcrum for the key 42 the latter may be provided with a projection adapted in the operative position of the key to bear against the body portion 30 of the cover thereby acting as fulcrum.

Also in this embodiment an easy and reliable opening action is ensured on account of the arrangement of the members in relation to each other.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the key 42 is journalled in the tearing member 32 by means of a joint similar in type to that shown in Figs. 5 to 8. The tearing member 32 is rigidly connected with the tearing portion 28 by means of the rivet 34 and is formed at the end extending beyond the tearing line 26 with the sleeve 58 serving as a bearing for the loop-shaped key 42, but, contrary to the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8, said key 42 is here mounted in the sleeve 56 intermediate its ends and has one end bent through approximately 180 to form an end portion 62, whereas its other end 64 terminates adjacent to said end portion 62.

The operation is substantially the same as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. During the upward movement of the. key 42 the end portion 62 slides successively towards the tearing line 26 causing a successive increase of the ruptured length of said line initiated by the upward movement of the tearing member 32. Also in this case the opening apparatus acts on the double lever principle, the one lever action being performed by the key 42, when turned upwardly with its end portion 62 as a fulcrum or axis of rotation, and the other lever action being effected by the tearing member 32, while being lifted by said key 42 with its inner limiting edge 54 as a fulcrum or axis of rotation.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, the tearing member and the key are integral. The portion 65 of the key 66 adjacent to the tearing line 25 and substantially parallel to the fold 24 is provided with an inwardly projecting part 68 permanently secured to the tearing portion 28 by means of the rivet 34 in the manner described above, said part 68 corresponding to the tearing member 32 shown in the previous embodiments. At the place of connection between the key 56 and said tearing member 68 a depression or recess 10 is provided forming the hinge-like joint embodying the invention. As seen this recess 10 is situated obliquely above the tearing line 26.

The operation of this opening apparatus is substantially the same as described with reference to the previous embodiments. When the key 66 is turned upwardly in the direction of the arrow 12 in Fig. 13 with the limiting edge 14 of the portion 65 as a fulcrum, the recess l9 will permit a hinge-like turning movement between the key 66 and the tearing member 68 which latter is lifted as in the previous embodiments. This causes a large stress to be executed on the sheet material on opposite sides of the tearing line 26, resulting in a rupture along said line. The rupture proceeds successively under the influence of the double lever action of the opening apparatus, that is, the action of the key when turning on its limiting edge 74 as a fulcrum or axis of rotation and that of the tearing member 68 when turning on its inner limiting edge 16 as a fulcrum.

The opening apparatus embodying my invention shown in Figs. 14 to 16, inclusive, operates on the same principle as the foregoing one. Here the opening apparatus is formed by a single metal rod or wire which is bent at its middle through an angle of approximately 180 and at this place flattened to form a central portion forming the tearing member and secured as before to the tearing portion 28 by means of the rivet 34. From said central portion 86 the two halves of the metal rod are bent through an angle of approximately 180 to provide arms 82 which are bent at their ends in opposite directions to provide firm grips 84, said parts 82 and 84 corresponding to the key in the previous embodiments. A depression or recess 85 is provided at the place of connection between the tearing member 80 and the bend 88 of the arms or key 82 serving in operation as a hinged joint in the manner described with reference to the preceding embodiment.

Evidently, the strength of the bend 88 of the arms 82 forming the key must be great enough to prevent any substantial deformation of the key at other place than at the recess 86.

In the last two embodiments the recess forming the hinged joint should not be so deep as to cause the key and the tearing member to be disconnected, when the apparatus is operated. The joint must be strong enough to withstand the force necessary to effect sufiicient rupture along the tearing line.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figs. 17 and 18 a tearing member 90 is secured to the tearing portion 28 by means of the rivet 34. This tearing member 90 is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, having a turned-up end portion 92 extending preferably beyond the tearing line 26 and bein provided with laterally extending lugs or projections 94. The opening key consists of a wire preferably bent into U-shape to provide shanks 96 the free ends of which are bent in opposite directions to form a grip 98. The portion I0!) of the wire forming a bearing part co-operating with the tearing member 90 and secured in position by same is rigidly connected with a part extending upwardly above the fold 24 of the container, said part consisting in the embodiment shown of a flattened part or tongue I02 integral with'the wire.

The operation on opening is substantially the same as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, with the difference that on the rupture of the tearing line 26 the opening key bears with its tongue H12 on the fold 24 of the container instead of on the fixed portion of the cover. This arrangement of the opening members permits the tearing line 26 to be located near the fold with the advantage that the tearing portion of the cover can be made as large as possible.

As in several of the preceding embodiments the opening key may, in this case. be placed in position after the cover with the tearing member secured in position has been fixed to the container body. This facilitates the washing operation to which the container must be subjected after the fixation of the cover, said washing operation being relatively difficult when a plurality of projecting parts are fixed to the cover. In this case the fixing of the key is effected in the following manner. In manufacturing the key its shanks are directed as shown in dotted lines 9641 in Fig.

18. With the shanks so directed the key is moved from above and downwardly over the lugs 94 of the tearing member, the shanks 96 being then by means of a suitable tool bent inwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 18 in which the key is maintained in place by the tearing member. In analogous manner the key of the opening means shown in the first, second and fifth embodiments may be secured. Also in the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the opening key may be fixed in position after the cover has been secured to the body of the container.

In all embodiments described above by Way of example the first rupture along the tearing line takes place upwardly. This is of great importanoe as thereby the following tearing action is considerably facilitated.

The invention is not to be considered as limited to the illustrative examples herein given but is to be considered as including all such changes and modifications as may fall within the scope of the appended claims when contrasted as broadly as is consistent with the state of the prior art.

What I claim is:--

1. A container having a tearing wall portion adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to effect opening of the container, said key being connected to said tearing member for pivotal movement with respect to said tearing member and having a fulcrum point about which the key acts, the connection between said tearing member and said key being situated between the place of permanent attachment of the tearing member and the fulcrum point of the key.

2. A container having a tearing wall portion adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion toeffect opening ofv the container, said key being associated in hinged relation with said tearing member and having a fulcrum point about which the key acts and the place of hinged movement between said key and said tearing member being situated between the place of permanent attachment of the tearing member and the fulcrum point of the key.

3. A container having a body portion and tearing wall portion defined at least in part by a tearing line and adapted to be ruptured and torn along said line to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to effect rupture of the tearing line, said key being connected to said tearing member for pivotal movement with respect to the tearing member and having a fulcrum point bearing on said body portion about which the key acts, the connection between said tearing member and said key being situated between the place of permanent attachment of the tearing member and the fulcrum point of the key.

4. A container having a body portion and a tearing wall portion defined at least in part by a tearingline and adapted to be ruptured and torn along said line to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing Wall portion to effect rupture of the tearing line, said key being connected to said tearing member for pivotal movement with respect to the tearing member and having a fulcrum point bearing on said body portion about which the key acts, the connection between said tearing member and said key being situated obliquely above said tearing line and over a part of said body portion adjacent to said tearing line and being situated between the place of permanent attachment of the tearing member and the fulcrum point of the key.

5. A container having a body portion and a tearing wall portion defined at least'in part by a tearing line and adapted to be ruptured and torn along said line to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearthe wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to effect opening of the container, said key being connected to said tearing member for pivotal movement with respect to the tearing member and having a fulorum point about which the key acts, said fulcrum point bearing on said body portion adjacent to said tearing line, the connection between said tearing member and said key being located in the vicinity of and above said tearing line and being situated between the place of permanent attachment of the tearing member and the fulcrum point of the key, whereby to provide oppositely acting forces on said tearing line at the place of rupture when said key is actuated, one of said forces acting downwardly on said body portion due to the pressure from the fulcrum point of the key and the other of said forces acting upwardly on said tearing wall portion due to the upward movement of said connection when the key is actuated.

6. A container having a tearing wall portion adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to effect opening of the container, said key being connected to said tearing member intermediate the ends of the key for pivotal movement with respect to said tearing member and one of the ends of the key constituting a fulcrum point bearing on a portion of the container other than said tearing wall portion about which fulcrum point the key is adapted to act to lift the tearing member at the place'of connection between the tearing member and the key when the key is operated.

7. A container having a body portion and a tearing wall portion separated from the body portion by a tearing line adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing Wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, said tearing member having a part extending over said body portion adjacent to said tea-ring line, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to effect opening of the container, said key havingpivotal connection intermediate its ends with said part of said tearing member and one end of said key constituting a fulcrum point adapted to bear on the said body portion in the vicinity of said tearing line, said key acting about the fulcrum point when it is turned to lift said part of said tearing member and to thereby cause said tearing member to be turned in a direction opposite that of the key.

8. A container having a body portion and a tearing wall portion separated from the body portion by a tearing line adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to efiect opening of the container, said key being connected intermediate its ends to said tearing member for pivotal movement with respect to said tearing member and having an end portion providing a fulcrum point adapted to bear on said body portion in the vicinity of said tearing line and to slide on the surface of said body portion toward said tearing line as the key is turned about its pivotal connection with the tearing member, the fulcrum end of the key exerting an inwardly acting force on said body portion to one side of the tearing line and said tearing member exerting an outwardly directed force on the part of the tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line due to the outward force exerted on the tearing member at the place of pivotal connection.

9. A container having a body portion and a tearing Wall portion separated from the body portion by a tearing line adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, said tearing member having a part extending over said tearing line, said part providing a journal bearing, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to effect opening of the container, said key having a part journalled in said journal bearing and having a fulcrum point adapted to bear on the body portion and about which the key acts, said journal bearing being situated between the place of permanent attachment of the tearing member and the fulcrum point of the key.

10. A container having a body portion and a tearing wall portion separated from the body portion by a tearing line adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, said tearing member having a part extending over said tearing line, said part providing a journal bearing, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to efiect opening of the container, said key having a part intermediate its ends journalled in said bearing and an end adapted to bear on said body portion and provide a fulcrum point about which the key is adapted to act as the key is turned to lift said part of said tearing member and turn the tearing member in a direction opposite the direction of the movement of the key.

11. A container having a body portion and a tearing wall portion separated from the body portion by a tearing line adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to efiect opening of the container, said key having an end portion disposed between said part of the tearing member and the body portion of the container, said end portion and said part of said tearing member being formed to provide pivotal movement of the key with respect to the tearing member when the key is turned in said plane, and said end portion bearing on said body portion to provide a fulcrum point at the end of the key about which the key acts when it is turned.

12. A container having a body portion and a tearing wall portion separated from the body portion by a tearing line adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line and providing a journal bearing above and adjacent to said tearing line, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to eifect opening of the container, said key having a portion intermediate its ends journalled in said bearing and an end portion adapted to bear on said body portion in the vicinity of said tearing line to provide a fulcrum point about which the key acts, said journal bearing being disposed with its axis perpendicular to the plane in which the key is adapted to be turned and substantially parallel to the direction of the portion of the tearing line to which the journal bearing is adjacent.

13. A container having a tearing wall portion adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to efiect opening of the container, said key being connected at one of its ends to said tearing member for pivotal movement with respect to said tearing member and having a fulcrum point intermediate its ends adapted to bear on the body of the container when the key is in operative position to provide a fulcrum point about which the key acts, the connection between the tearing member and the key being situated between the place of permanent attachment of the tearing member and the fulcrum point of the key.

14. A container having a body portion and a tearing wall portion separated from the body portion by a tearing line adapted to be torn to open the container, a tearing member permanently attached to said tearing wall portion adjacent to said tearing line, said tearing member having a part extending over said body portion adjacent to said tearing line and said part providing a journal bearing, a manually operable key constituting a lever adapted to be turned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said tearing wall portion to effect opening of the container, said key being formed with pin-like portions at one end journalled in said bearing and said key when in operative position bearing against a part of said body portion to provide a fulcrum intermediate the ends of the key whereby to lift said part of said tearing member when the key is operated.

ERIK LJUNGsTRoM.

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