US3115985A

US3115985A - Frangible closure for cans

Info

Publication number: US3115985A
Application number: US71867A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fried Louis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-11-17
Filing date: 1960-11-17
Publication date: 1963-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-31

Description

Dec. 31, 1963 L. FRIED 3,115,935

' FRANGIBLE CLOSURE FOR CANS I Original Filed Sept. 11, 1950 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 515' r if r .21 i Ty 6. J? V51 19,

v F9 I 27 Zhwentor Louis Fried g v fi m (Ittornegs Dec. 31, 1963 L. FRI D FRANGIBLE CLOSURE FOR CANS Original Filed Sept. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y Zinventor Fried United States Patent 3,115,985 FRANGEELE CLURE FQR CANS Louis Fried, 67 S. Mann Ave, East Grange, N1, assignmof fraetionai interests to various assignees (Iontinuation of application Ser- No. 538,329, (Pet. 4,

1955, which is a continuation of appiication gar. No.

184,236, Sept. 11, 195%. This appiication Nov. 17,

1960, Ser. No. 71,867

18 Claims. (Cl. 220-48) This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 538,329, filed October 4, 1955, which was a continuation of application Serial No. 184,236, filed September 11, 1950, for Frangible Closure for Cans.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet metal cans of the type having their ends seamed onto the body in a permanent air-tight connection, and in which one end of the can inwardly of its seamed connection to the body is provided with a part consisting of soft metal which can be easily punctured by a sharp implement or blade and removed to aiford access to the contents of the can so that the conventional can opener is not required to open the can.

Important objects of the invention are to provide an improved can of the kind referred to; to provide an improved end closure comprising a top member having a peripheral portion of the same shape as the shouldered peripheral portion of the well known conventional single piece dished covers or end closures and provided with an opening therein inwardly of its shouldered peripheral portion, and a bottom sheet member of metal foil disposed against the bottom face of the top member, and closing the opening in the inner section thereof, the top member with the soft metal bottom sheet secured thereto constituting an end closure in the form of a single unit that can be stacked and fed from the hopper of conventional or standard can end seaming machines and seamed thereby onto the end of the can body with the same facility as end closures or tops of conventional form that consist of a single member formed entirely of relatively stiff metal and which require a can opener for opening the same, without any altering of the structure or operation of the conventional can end seaming machine or modifying the filling devices of such standard machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved can end closure of the character referred to so constructed that the frangible soft metal bottom sheet member is advantageously reinforced by the top member of the closure to well withstand any and all pressures that may exist or be created within the can after filling and sealing of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved implement of simple, efficient inexpensive construction for puncturing and removing the removable part of the end closure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved implement for puncturing and removing the removable part of the end closure with simple, efiicient means whereby the cutting implement can be temporarily attached to the end closure disposed in compact relation therewith and so that the same will not scratch or otherwise injure anyone handling the can, and the cans may be packed, handled and shipped in the same manner as cans of conventional construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle or container in the form of a can, cup or the like, having a cover or top embodying a member with an opening through which the contents of the receptacle may be discharged and an undrelying frangible wall covering the opening, with an opener device attached to said member and fully covering said opening to protect the frangible 3,il5,8 5 Patented Dec. 31, lQfiB wall covering against damage either from external sources or pressure from within the receptacle.

A further object is to provide a receptacle or container in the form of a can, cup or the like, having a stiff metal disc member provided with an opening for the discharge of the contents of the receptacle and an underlying frangible sheet covering the opening and hermetically flangesealed to the body of the receptacle, with an opener device attached to the disc member on the outer side thereof in a manner to be completely removed for use in cutting or puncturing the frangible sheet and the opener is constructed and arranged to entirely cover the opening to fully protect the frangible sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle or container in the form of a can, cup or the like having a stiif metal disc member provided with an opening for the discharge of the contents of the receptacle, and an underlying frangible sheet, covering the opening and hermetically flange-sealed to the body of the receptacle, with an opener device overlying and entirely covering said opening and having an integral portion extending to the under side of the metal disc member and functioning to hold the cutter member in place but ready for easy complete removal for use in cutting out the frangible sheet through the said opening.

Still another object is to provide a receptacle or container in the form of a can, cup or the like having a stiff metal disc member provided with an opening for the discharge of the contents of the receptacle, and an underlying frangible sheet covering the opening and hermetically flange-sealed to the body of the receptacle, with an opener device overlying and entirely covering said opening, with means releasably securing the opener to the disc member whereby the opener may be entirely removed or detached from the disc member for use in cutting the frangible sheet through the opening.

The invention, with other objects, novel features and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprising the same, will be understood from the hereinafter contained detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and illustrating several embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can provided with an end closure constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of the top member and soft metal bottom member of the improved end closure, the members being shown before the soft metal bottom sheet member is pressed on and secured to the top member;

FIG. 4 is a detail vertical section of the completed end closure unit before the same is secured on the can body;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a can provided with a slightly modified construction of end closure with a cutting implement attached thereto;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective View of the cutting imple ment and the top member of the end closure construction shown in FIG. 5, the parts being disassembled;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of another modified form of end closure and cutting implement;

FIG. 9 is a detail perspective view of the cutting implement and the top and bottom members of the end closure construction shown in FIG. 8, the parts being shown detached;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section on the line 1tl'-llti of FIG. 8.

While several preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, it will, of course, be understood that minor changes and modifications may be made in the particular constructions shown, and the invention may be embodied in other forms as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to a detailed description of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a can is shown having a cylindrical body 17 and a bottom closure 18 of conventional construction made of stiff metal such as tinned sheet iron, and also, as is the usual construction, the body 17 at its upper end is provided with an outturned flange 19*.

My improved closure for the upper end of the can comprises a top member 20 constructed of stiff metal like the body 17 of the can and a bottom wall member 21 made of metal foil, aluminum or other soft metal. The top member is of the same shape as the conventional single-piece dished covers or top end closures having a shouldered peripheral portion comprising an inner circular section 22 extending at substantially a right angle to the of the closure, an upstanding annular flange 23 extending from the outer margin of the inner circular section 22, and an outer annular flange portion 24 extending outwardly from the upper end of the flange 23 at substantially a right angle to the axis of the closure and having an inwardly curled peripheral portion 25 extending to the underside thereof. The top member 2% is provided in its inner section 22 with an opening 26. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the inner section 22 consists of only a relatively narrow annular portion directly adjoining the upstanding flange 2.3, the opening 26 extending throughout the major central part of the inner section. The annular inner section 22, as shown, is of concavo-convex form with the convex side thereof facing outwardly and the inner marginal portion of the annular section 22 is turned back to the underside thereof to provide a smooth rounded edge or bead about the opening 26.

The bottom soft metal wall member 21 is of dished formation and has a shouldered peripheral portion corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the cross-sectional contour of the bottom or underface of the top member 20, the bottom member lying against the underface of the top member 28, the same having an inner section 27 extending over the opening 26 in the top member 20, an upstanding flange 2d, and an outer flange portion 29. The bottom member 21 is formed from a circular sheet b of metal foil, the flat sheet being pressed onto the underface of the top member 2 by suitable dies and being thus shaped to correspond to the shape of the underface of the top member Ztl. The outer flange portion 2% of the bottom member extends into the inwardly curled peripheral portion 25 of the outer flange 24 and is pressed into the same, the bottom member Zll being thus firmly secured to the top member. The cover or top end closure shown in FIG. 4 thus provided in the form of a single unit, can be stacked and fed from the hopper of the conventional or standard can end seaming machine and seamed onto the can body with the same facility as the conventional continuous piece end closure of stitf metal without any modification whatever of the structure or operation of the conventional can end seaming machine or altering the filling devices thereof, the outer flange portions 24- and 29 respectively of the top and bottom mem bers of the end closure and the outturned flange 19 on the upper end of the can body being pressed downwardly and inwardly in the form of a bead against the side of the can body 17 as shown in FIG. 2, the marginal edge of the inwardly curled peripheral portion 25 of the outer flange portion 24 of the top member being disposed against the outer edge of the downturned flange 19' on the can body with the outer flange portion 29 of the bottom member of the closure pressed between the flanges l9 and 24 on the can body and top member forming an hermetically sealed gasand fluid-tight joint.

As will be understood, the can provided with my improved top closure can be easily opened to remove the contents. The inner section 27 of the soft frangible metal bottom Wall member 21 can be easily punctured or cut out and removed by an ordinary knife or other sharp implement, the opening of the can being performed with much less effort than in the cutting of conventional single piece covers of stiff metal requiring a can opener and no irregular sharp pointed portions being left about the opening.

It will be noted that the inner annular section 22 of the top member 2% provides an extended reinforcing and supporting surface inwardly of the lower end of the shouldered portion or upstanding flange 23 for the inner section 27 of the thin soft metal bottom wall member 21, the same being of material importance in reinforcing the inner section 27 of the thin frangible soft metal bottom member to withstand pressures created in the can after filling and sealing of the same.

if desired, my readily openable top closure may be applied to one end of the can prior to filling the same and temporarily serve as the top bottom closure for the can, the can being filled from the other end of the same and this end closed and sealed in the regular way by an end closure of conventional construction, the can being afterwards reversed so that my improved closure with the frangible soft metal section will be at the top of the can.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is shown a modified form of top end closure which includes a cutting implement on the top member of the cover for opening the same. In this modified construction, the can body and the cover or top end closure per se are of the same construction as hereinbefore described and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, except that the inner annular section 22 of the top member 20 of the cover has tongue-like securing elements 3t? formed integral therewith for attaching the cutting implement designated generally A tiereto, the parts of the can and top closure being denoted in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 by the same reference numerals used to designate like parts in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The cutting implement A consists of a plate or blade having a main sector shaped part 31 and a portion 32 having

converging edges

33, 34 extending from the periphery of the main sector shaped part 31 and forming a pointed cutter. The periphery of the sector shaped part 31 is described by an arc corresponding substantially to the curvature of the inner face of the upstanding flange 23 of the top member 21), the cutting implement A being adapted to fit within the annular upstanding flange 23 upon the inner section of the top member and extend over the opening 26 therein as shown in FIG. 5. The main sector shaped part 31 of the cutting implement is provided in opposite marginal portions thereof with apertures 35 for the passage of the attaching tongue-like elements 3%, the attaching tongues being passed through said openings as the cutting blade is placed in position within the shouldered peripheral portion of the top member 2! the tongues being afterwards bent down onto the cutting blade A, firmly securing the same in place on the cover. As will be understood, the cutting implement can be readily removed for use by bending the attached tongues or tongue-like elements 3d up to the position shown in FIG. '7. After removal of the cutting implement, the attaching tongues may be bent outwardly flat against the inner section 22 of the cover.

It will be noted that the invention provides for attaching the cutting implement to the top closure compactly arranged within the peripheral shouldered portion or upstanding flange of the top member so that the same will not scratch anyone handling the can, and

the cover or top closure with the cutting implement at tached thereto may be seamed onto the can body by the conventional can end seamiu machine, and the cans may be packed, handled and shipped in the same manner as cans of conventional construction.

The modified construction of top closure illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, except that it includes a cutting implement B and the inner section 22 of the top member 2% instead of having a large central opening, is provided with a small opening 36 near a marginal portion thereof, this particular construction being designed for liquids, fruit juices, beer, etc. while the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 in which the top member of the cover has the large central opening is for solid foods.

The cutting implement B consists of an elongated metal blade having straight side edges 37 and curved end edges 38, the blade having a pointed cutter portion 39 at each end thereof for opening the closure. The blade B is provided a short distance from one end thereof with tongues, or tongue-like securing elements 4d, projecting laterally from opposite side edges thereof and olfset below the plane of the blade B, said lugs being adapted to be engaged between the marginal portion of the inner section 22 of the top member 2 about the aperture 35 and the underlying portion 2? of the bottom member 21 to temporarily attach the cutting implement to the top closure in the position shown in FIG. 8 within the peripheral shouldered portion 23 thereof and firmly held against the inner section 22 of the top member 20.

The aperture 36, which is of general circular shape, has small lateral edge extension or recess 41 of eneral rectangular shape that permits the tongue-like se uring' elements 46 to be readily entered between the top and bottom members of the cover as referred to, one of the lugs being first slipped in between the closure members at one side of the aperture 36 with the other lug disposed in register with the lateral extension of the aperture 36, the blade B being then pressed downwardly to move the last mentioned lug through the lateral recess or opening extension 41, and the blade then being moved angularly so that the said lug is moved out of register with the opening recess 41 to the position shown in FIG. 8 in which the curved end edges 38 of the blade B are disposed against the inner face of the shouldered peripheral portion 23 of the top member 2% of the cover, the curvature of the end edges 38 of the blade B corresponding to the curvature of the peripheral portion 23. The blade is shown provided along one side edge with a slightly raised portion 42 to facilitate raising the blade in detaching the same from the closure.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, as in that illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the cutting in plement is disposed Within the peripheral shouldered portion of the cover so that the cutting implement will not scratch anyone handling the can and the cans can be packed and shipped in the same manner as cans of conventional construction.

t will be noted that in both forms of the invention where a cutter is provided, the cutter is of a size relative to the opening to fully cover the latter. In other words, the cutter is dimensioned so that when fixed in position over the material dispensing opening it will extend beyond the edge or edges of the opening and thereby prevent matter entering the opening and/or prevent any part of the frangible inner wall being forced out by pressure from within.

1 claim:

1. A closure for a receptacle comprising a plate-like member having a preformed pour opening therein, a sheet of relatively soft relatively easily cut material secured against the under side of said member and covering said opening, a flat one piece opener and cutter member plane in a major dimension between opposite points on its edge and lying flat upon the top of the platelike member over and entirely covering said opening, and separate, plural means providing an interlocking disconnectible coupling between the opener member and the plate-like member, and the opener member being entirely removable from the plate-lil e member for use separate and apart from the plate-like member in cutting said sheet of material from said opening.

2. A closure for a receptacle comprising a plate-like member having a preformed pour opening therein, means for securing the member to the receptacle to close the latter, a sheet of relatively soft relatively easily cut material secured against the under side of said member and coverin said opening, a one piece opener and cutter comprising a flat body of relatively stiff material plane in a major dimension between opposite points on its edge and lying against the top of the plate-like member over and closing said opening and extending beyond the edge of the opening and forming close contact with the top of the plate-like member around the opening to protect the sheet of material, and an interlocking separable coupling means between said opener body and the platelilre member disposed partially in the pour opening facilitating quick complete detachment of the cutter from the plate-like member for use separate and apart from the plate-like member in cutting said sheet of material from said opening.

3. A closure for a receptacle comprising a plate-like iember having a preformed pour opening therein, a sheet of frangible material overlying the under side of said member and covering said opening, a fiat one piece opener and cutter member lying upon the top side of the first member over said opening, one of said members having an integral portion thereof partially disposed in the pour opening and removably secured against the side of the other member remote from said one member and ma taining the opener member in position over the pour opening and readily fully detachable from said other member.

An end closure for cans of the type having an outturned peripheral end flange, said closure comprising a top member having an inner annular section extending at a substanthlly right angle to the axis of the end closure and being open inwardly of said annular section, an annular upstanding flange extending from the outer of said inner section, and an outer annular flange portion extending outwardly from said first mentioned flange at substantially a right angle to the axis of the closure and having an inwardly curled peripheral portion extendirv to the underside thereof, a bottom member in the form of a sheet of soft compressible sealing material shaped to correspond in cross-sectional shape to the cross-sectional contour of the bottom face of the top member and extending over the opening in the inner section of the top member, said soft sealing bottom sheet member lying against and extending throughout the underface of the major part of the top member, the peripheral portion of the soft sealing bottom sheet being pressed into the inwardly curled peripheral portion of the outer flange portion of said top member and thereby secured thereto, a cutting implement consisting of a plate of a size and shape to fit within the upstanding annular flange of the top member of the closure and upon the inner annular section thereof and extend over the opening therein, said cutter plate having at one side edge thereof a pointed cutter portion, and said cutter plate being provided in opposite side marginal portions thereof with apertures, and the inner annular section of the top member of the closure having tongues extending from the inner edge thereof, said tongues being adapted to be passed through said apertures in the cutter plate and bent down thereupon to detachably secure the cutter plate in position on the top member.

5. An end closure construction for containers comprising a plate-like top member adapted to provide a 7, closure for a container, said plate ilte top member having an opening therein, a bottom member in the form of a sheet of soft compressible scaling material extending over the opening of the top member, said soft sealing bottom sheet member lying against and extending throughout the underface of the major part of the top member, the peripheral portion of the soft sealing bottom sheet being secured to the peripheral portion of the top member, a cutting implement comprising a plate of a size and shape to extend over the opening in the top member, and said cutter plate having at one side edge thereof a pointed cutter portion, and said cutter plate being provided in opposite side marginal portions thereof with apertures, and the top member of the closure having tongues extending therefrom engaged through said apertures and bent to detachably secure the cutter plate in position on the top member.

6. An end closure for cans of the type having an out turned peripheral end flange, said end closure comprising a top member including a central circular inner plate portion extending at substantially a right angle to the axis of the end closure and having an opening therein near a marginal portion thereof, said opening being of general circular shape with a small lateral extension, an annular upstanding flange extending from the outer margin of said inner section, and an outer annular flange portion extending outwardly from said first mentioned flange at substantially a right angle to the axis of the end closure and having an inwardly curled peripheral portion extending to the underside thereof, a bottom member in the form of a sheet of soft compressible sealing material shaped to correspond in cross-sectional shape to the crosssectional contour of the bottom face of the top member and extending under the opening in the inner section of the top member, said soft sealing bottom sheet lying against and extending throughout the under face of the major part of the top member, the peripheral portion of the soft sealing bottom sheet being pressed into the inwardly curled peripheral portion of the outer flange portion of the top member and thereby secured thereto, and a cutting implement consisting of an elongated blade of a size to lit within the upstanding annular flange of the top member of the closure upon the inner section thereof and extend over the opening therein, said blade having a pointed cutter portion at one end and having near one end oppositely disposed lugs projecting from opposite side edges thereof, said lugs being offset below the plane of the blade and being adapted to be entered between the marginal portion of the inner section of the top member around the opening therein and the underlying inner portion of the bottom member to detachably secure the cutting implement in position on the top member, the small lateral extension of the circular opening in the inner section of the top member being of a size to permit one of the lugs on the cutting blade to be passed therethrough when the other lug is entered between the parts at the other side of the circular opening.

7. An end closure for cans of the type having an outturned peripheral end flange, said end closure comprising a top member including a central circular inner plate portion extending at substantially a right angle to the axis of the end closure and having an opening therein near a marginal portion thereof, said opening being of general circular shape with a small lateral extension, an annnular upstanding flange extending from the outer margin of said inner section, and an outer annular flange portion extending outwardly from said first mentioned flange at substantially a right angle to the axis of the end closure and having an inwardly curled peripheral portion extending to the underside thereof, a bottom member in the form of a sheet of compressible sealing material shaped to correspond in cross-sectional shape to the cross-sectional contour of the bottom face of the top member and extending under the opening in the innor section of the top member, said soft sealing bottom sheet lying against and extending throughout the underface of the major part of the top member, the peripheral portion of the soft sealing bottom sheet being pressed into the inwardly curled peripheral portion of the outer flange portion of the top member and thereby secured thereto, and a cutting implement consisting of an elongated blade of a size to fit within the upstanding annular flange of the top member of the closure upon the inner section thereof and extend over the opening therein, said blade having similarly curved end edges, and said blade having a pointed cutter portion at one end and having near one end oppositely disposed lugs projecting from opposite side edges thereof, said lugs being offset below the plane of the blade and being adapted to be entered between the marginal portion of the inner section of the top member around the opening therein and the underlying inner portion of the bottom member to detachably secure the cutting implement in position on the top member, the small lateral extension of the circular opening in the inner section of the top member being of a size to permit one of the lugs on the cutting blade to be passed therethrough when the other lug is entered between the parts at the other side of the circular opening, the curved end edges of the cutting implement fitting against the inner side of the upstanding flange when the lugs are disposed in interlocking relation between portions of the top and bottom members of the closure.

8. An end closure construction for containers comprising a plate-like top member adapted to provide a closure for a container, said plate-like top member having an opening therein and the edge of the opening of the opening having a lateral extension, a bottom mem her in the form of a sheet of soft compressible sealing material extending over the opening of the top member, said soft sealing bottom sheet member lying against and extending throughout the underface of the major part of the top member, the peripheral portion of the soft sealing bottom sheet being secured to the peripheral portion of the top member, a cutting implement comprising a plate of a size and shape to extend over the opening in the top member, and said plate being of elongated blade-like form having a pointed cutter portion at one end and having oppositely disposed lugs projecting from opposite side edges thereof, said lugs being offset below the plane of the plate and at least one thereof being insertable through said lateral extension after the other lug has been inserted through said opening whereby both lugs may be engaged between the marginal portion of the opening in the plate member and the underlying portion of the bottom sheet member to detachably secure the cutting plate in position on the top member.

9. An end closure construction for containers comprising a plate-like top member adapted to provide a closure for a container, said plate member having an opening therein near a marginal portion thereof, said opening being of generally circular shape with a small lateral ex tension, :1 bottom member in the form of a sheet of soft compressible sealing material extending over the opening of the top member, said sealing bottom sheet member lying against and coextensive with the major part of tire top member, the peripheral portion of the soft sealing bottom sheet member being secured to the peripheral portion of the top member, and a cutting implement comprised of an elongated blade of a size to cover said opening disposed over said top member, said blade having a pointed cutter portion and oppositely disposed lugs projecting from opposite side edges thereof, said lugs being offset below the plane of the blade and engaged between the manginal portion surrounding the opening in the top member and the underlying portion of the bottom member to detachably secure the blade in position on the top member, said lateral extension of the opening in the top mem- 9 her being of a size to perm-it one of the lugs to be passed therethrough while the other lug is disposed between the top and bottom members at the opposite side of the opening.

10. A closure for a receptacle, comprising a plate-like member peripherally formed for flanged attachment to a receptacle body and having a pour opening therein and formed with an edge recess, a sheet of frangible material secured to the underside of said member and covering said opening, and means for facilitating rupturing the frangible material whereby the receptacle contents may be discharged through the pour opening, said means embodying a list member lying against the top surface of said plate-like member and having an integral portion insertable through said edge recess and positioned to lie against the underside of the plate-like member between the latter and the sheet of frangible material.

11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein said fiat member has an end portion in the form of a cutting point.

12. An end closure construction for containers, comprising a plate-like top member adapted to provide a closure for a container, said plate-like top member having an opening therein, a bottom member in the form of a sheet of thin, easily frangible sealing material extending over the opening of the top member, said sheet of sealing material lying against and extending throughout the under face of the major part of the top member, the peripheral portion of said sheet of sealing material being secured to the top member, a cutting implement comprising a plate of a size and shape to extend over the opening in the top member, said plate being completely flat and having a portion of the edge thereof of a contour to provide a cutting point, said cutting implement plate being provided in opposite marginal portions thereof with apertures, and the top member of the closure having tongues extending therefrom and engaged through said apertures and bent down to detachably secure the cutting implement plate in position on the top member.

13. An end closure construction for containers comprising a plate-like top member adapted to provide a closure for a container, said plate-like top member having an opening therein, a bottom member in the form of a sheet of easily frangible sealing material extending over the opening of the top member, said sheet of sealing material lying against and extending throughout the under surface of the major part of the top member, the peripheral portion of the sheet of sealing material being secured to the top member, a cutting implement comprising a plate of a size and contour to extend over the opening in the top member, said cutting implement plate being completely fiat and having two straight outwardly converging and intersecting edge portions forming a cutting point, said cutting implement plate being provided in opposite side marginal portions thereof with apertures, and the top member of the closure having tongues extending therefrom and engaged in and extending through said apertures and bent down upon the top of the cutting implement plate to secure the latter in position on the top member.

14. A receptacle closure comprising a wall body having an inner side and an outer side and having a preformed pour opening therein, a sheet of relatively soft relatively easily cut material secured against the inner side of the wall body over and closing said pour opening, and a combined one-piece element covering and closing said opening on the outer side of said wall body and removable for use in cutting said material, said device comprising a plate body having a bordering edge and substantially the entire extent of which with substantially the entire area circumscribed by said edge, lying in one plane and having a portion of said edge shaped to form a cutter lying in said plane for use in cutting said material, said bodies carrying cooperating means by which the plate body may 16 be detachably secured to the wall body against the outer side of the wall body to cover said pour opening and said cooperating means consisting of a tongue member carried by one body and a tongue member receiving aperture in the other body, said tongue member being engaged against a side of the said other body after the said cooperating means have been made operative, to secure the plate and wall bodies together.

15. A receptacle closure comprising a wall body having an inner side and an outer side and having a preformed pour opening therein, a s set of relatively soft relatively easily cut material secured against the inner side of the wall body over and closing said pour opening, and a combined one-piece element covering and closing said opening on the outer side of said wall body and removable for use in cutting said material, said device comprising a plate body having a bordering edge substantially the entire extent of which with substantially the entire area circumscribed by said edge, lying in one plane and having a portion of said edge shaped to form a cutter lying in said plane for use in cutting said material, a pair of tongue members carried by one of said bodies, and aperture means in the other body through which the tongue members of said other body are extended, and said tongue members being of a character and form to be disposed, after extension through said aperture means of said other body, to engage against a side of said other body to detachably secure the plate body in pour opening covering position.

16. The invention according to claim 15, wherein said tongue members are carried by and extend laterally from opposite sides of said plate body and are offset from the plane of the plate body and said aperture means is a single means and consists of a lateral extension of the edge of the pour opening through which one of said tongue members may be passed to the underside of the wall body after the other tongue member has been inserted through the pour opening.

17. A receptacle closure comprising a wall body having an inner side and an outer side and having a preformed pour opening therein, a sheet of relatively soft relatively easily cut material secured against the inner side of the wall body over and closing said pour opening, and a combined one piece device for covering said opening on the outer side of said wall body and for use in cutting said material, said device comprising a plate body having a bordering edge and being plane throughout substantially the entire area circumscribed by said edge and having a portion of said bordering edge shaped to form a cutter for use in cutting said material, said bodies carrying cooperating means by which the plate body may be detachably secured to the wall body on the outer side of the wall body to cover said pour opening and said cooperating means consisting of a tongue member carried by one body and a tongue member receiving aperture in the other body, said tongue member being engaged against a side of the said other body after the said cooperating means have been made operative, to secure the plate and wall bodies together, said tongue member being bendable and being carried by the said wall body and the said tongue member receiving aperture being in the plate body, the tongue member when extended through said aperture being in bent over position against the side of the plate body remote from the wall body.

18. A closure for a receptacle comprising a plate-like member having a preformed pour opening therein, a sheet of frangible material overlying the underside of said member and covering said opening, a fiat opener member having a unitary portion thereof formed as a cutter and lying flat throughout its extent in a major dimension thereof upon the top side of the first member over and enclosing said opening. one of said members having a portion of the material thereof partially disposed in the pour opening and removably secured against the side of the other member remote from said one member and removably maintaining the opener member in position over 11 the pour opening for complete detachment from said 1,545,859 other member. 1,765,383 2,304,214 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 489,778 260,432 Walsh July 4, 1882 12 Sneak July 14, 1925 Punte June 24, 1930 Straub Dec. 8, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 4, 1938

Claims

7. AN END CLOSURE FOR CANS OF THE TYPE HAVING AN OUTTURNED PERIPHERAL END FLANGE, SAID END CLOSURE COMPRISING A TOP MEMBER INCLUDING A CENTRAL CIRCULAR INNER PLATE PORTION EXTENDING AT SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE AXIS OF THE END CLOSURE AND HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN NEAR A MARGINAL PORTION THEREOF, SAID OPENING BEING OF GENERAL CIRCULAR SHAPE WITH A SMALL LATERAL EXTENSION, AN ANNULAR UPSTANDING FLANGE EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER MARGIN OF SAID INNER SECTION, AND AN OUTER ANNULAR FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST MENTIONED FLANGE AT SUBSTANTIALLY A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE AXIS OF THE END CLOSURE AND HAVING AN INWARDLY CURLED PERIPHERAL PORTION EXTENDING TO THE UNDERSIDE THEREOF, A BOTTOM MEMBER IN THE FORM OF A SHEET OF COMPRESSIBLE SEALING MATERIAL SHAPED TO CORRESPOND IN CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE TO THE CROSS-SECTIONAL CONTOUR OF THE BOTTOM FACE OF THE TOP MEMBER AND EXTENDING UNDER THE OPENING IN THE INNER SECTION OF THE TOP MEMBER, SAID SOFT SEALING BOTTOM SHEET LYING AGAINST AND EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE UNDERFACE OF THE MAJOR PART OF THE TOP MEMBER, THE PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE SOFT SEALING BOTTOM SHEET BEING PRESSED INTO THE INWARDLY CURLED PERIPHERAL PORTION OF THE OUTER FLANGE PORTION OF THE TOP MEMBER AND THEREBY SECURED THERETO, AND A CUTTING IMPLEMENT CONSISTING OF AN ELONGATED BLADE OF A SIZE TO FIT WITHIN THE UPSTANDING ANNULAR FLANGE OF THE TOP MEMBER OF THE CLOSURE UPON THE INNER SECTION THEREOF AND EXTEND OVER THE OPENING THEREIN, SAID BLADE HAVING SIMILARLY CURVED END EDGES, AND SAID BLADE HAVING A POINTED CUTTER PORTION AT ONE END AND HAVING NEAR ONE END OPPOSITELY DISPOSED LUGS PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, SAID LUGS BEING OFFSET BELOW THE PLANE OF THE BLADE AND BEING ADAPTED TO BE ENTERED BETWEEN THE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE INNER SECTION OF THE TOP MEMBER AROUND THE OPENING THEREIN AND THE UNDERLYING INNER PORTION OF THE BOTTOM MEMBER TO DETACHABLY SECURE THE CUTTING IMPLEMENT IN POSITION ON THE TOP MEMBER, THE SMALL LATERAL EXTENSION OF THE CIRCULAR OPENING IN THE INNER SECTION OF THE TOP MEMBER BEING OF A SIZE TO PERMIT ONE OF THE LUGS ON THE CUTTING BLADE TO BE PASSED THERETHROUGH WHEN THE OTHER LUG IS ENTERED BETWEEN THE PARTS AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CIRCULAR OPENING, THE CURVED END EDGES OF THE CUTTING IMPLEMENT FITTING AGAINST THE INNER SIDE OF THE UPSTANDING FLANGE WHEN THE LUGS ARE DISPOSED IN INTERLOCKING RELATION BETWEEN PORTIONS OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS OF THE CLOSURE.