US3182852A

US3182852A - Container with pull tab

Info

Publication number: US3182852A
Application number: US182751A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilkinson Harlen Edgar
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1962-03-27
Filing date: 1962-03-27
Publication date: 1965-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-11

Description

y 11, 1965 H. E. WILKINSON 3,182,852

CONTAINER WITH PULL TAB 5 Filed March 27. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvszvron HARM/v [MA/8 w/zmvswv May 11, 1965 H. E. WILKINSON 3,182,852

CONTAINER WITH PULL TAB Filed March 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mar m1; MENTOR /fl x/mmv 0641? MIX/MSW! United States Patent tion of New Jersey Filed Mar. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 182,751 9 Claims. (Cl. 22054) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 58,392, filed September 26, 1960, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a hermetically sealed container or can having an easy open end which requires no tools for opening the container.

The present invention is particularly adapted for containers or cans such as are commonly used for canned beverages, juices, vegetables, meats and other edibles as well as other products packed in a vacuumized or a pressurized container. One of the major problems in designing such containers is to provide for easy opening of the container by simply pulling a tab which is an integral part of the container, and without the need of extra can openers, knives or other tools. In addition to this easy open feature, the container structure must be sufficiently strong to withstand shock and static forces caused by vacuumizing or pressurizing in addition to the normal handling and shipping of the container.

Past attempts to provide metal cans with easy opening ends generally required the use of a separate tool or key for removal of a tear strip formed in the can end. With such devices, there is the problem of either providing a free end on the tear strip which can be engaged by a separate key or opening tool or permanently attaching a key or gripping member to the tear strip, while simultaneously maintaining a hermetic seal at the can end. Moreover, in the manufacture of ends having a tear strip with a key or tool permanently attached thereto, it is necessary to first fashion the key or tool and thereafter weld or otherwise secure it to the end of the tear strip. This operation requires that the key or tool be held in a predetermined alignment with the tear strip. While such special positioning can be accomplished, it necessarily increases the manufacturing time and costs as well as requiring additional machinery and special equipment for aligning and assembling the various components.

The container end of the subject invention may be easily and quickly opened without the need for a key or other opening tool. This result is achieved by providing a finger engageable tab which is an integral part of and r formed directly from the end panel, and which may be manually pulled to tear away an integrally connected tear strip thereby separating a central panel from the container end. The portion of the end from which the finger engageable tab is formed is hermetically sealed by a seal patch of suitable material which is strong enough to withstand the normal forces encountered during processing, handling, shipping, etc. Moreover, fabrication and assembly of the component parts of the subject invention do not require any special positioning of the ends, and the assembly of the ends to the container bodies may be accomplished in the standard manner using the standard tools and equipment presently available for this purpose.

While the subject container has a wide field of use including the packaging of liquid products, it has been found that some product spatter may occur when a container containing a liquid product is opened. The spatter is attributable to drops of product that normally adhere to the end and are thrown off as the tear strip and central panel separate from the end. This is the result of the fact that as the tear strip is pulled and severed from the can 3,182,852 Patented May 11, 1965 end, it twists and deforms in a manner which causes it to act somewhat like a deflected spring. Consequently, when the tear strip is released from the end it tends to snap back to a neutral or undeflected position and in so doing imparts a suddent movement to the central panel and the drops of product adhering thereto. A modified form of the subject invention is designed to eliminate for the most part the product spatter resulting from this tear strip spring action.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a container or can end which overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies and problems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container or can end with a finger engageable tab and its associated tear strip for manually removing a separable portion of the can end from the remainder of the end with no need for a key or other tool.

Another object is to provide such a can end wherein the finger engageable tab and its associated tear strip are parts of the same metal panel which forms the can end.

A further object is to provide such a can end wherein spatter of liquid contents adhering to the can end when it is opened is minimized.

Still a further object is to provide such a can end which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured at high rates of production.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hermetically sealed container showing the easy open feature of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional partial view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the end showing the tab portion lifted from the plane of the separable portion during the initial opening of the container;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a container and the separable portion removed therefrom and further showing the patch being carried by the separable portion;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a can showing a modified form of the easy open end of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view in reduced size showing the can end of FIG. 5 in the openedposition and before the tear strip is separated therefrom;

FIG. 8 is a partial top view of a can showing another modified form of the invention.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIG. 1 shows a container comprising a body 10 and a container end 11 secured to the body 10 and therewith forming the sealed enclosure or container.

The container end 11 is constructed from a sheet of material of predetermined low tearability value, in this instance provided by the material being metal of a preset thickness. End 11 has an internal surface 12 and an external surface 13. The sheet of material has an endless outer or first score line 14 impressed in one surface, in this instance outer surface 13, to provide a frangible line of decreased thickness and higher or increased tearability value. This endless outer or first score line 14 divides the sheet into a separable portion 15 within the score line 14 and a peripheral portion 16 without the score line 14 adapted to be secured to the body 10. The separable portion 15 includes a tear strip 17 terminating in a tab 18 which is preferably disposed in the center of the separable portion 15. The outer score line 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1, defines the shape of an opening desired to be made in the container for removing the contents therefrom and is preferably circular when the container is round or generally cylindrical.

The separable portion has a first point and a second score line 21 impressed in a surface, in this instance the outer surface 13, to define a frangible line of decreased thickness and higher or increased tearability value. This second score line 21 is illustrated as merging with the outer score line 14 and extending inwardly from the first score line 14 to the first point 20. The first point 20 is closer to the center of the separable portion 15 than any part of the first score line 14, and the second score line 21 preferably curves into the first score line '14 as it merges therewith.

The sheet of material also has a third or inner score line 22 impressed in a surface, in this instance the outer surface 13, to define a frangible line of decreased thickness and higher or increased tearability value. The inner score line is disposed entirely in the separable portion 15 and is preferably though not necessarily spaced from the first and

second score lines

14 and 21 respectively substantially an equal distance throughout its extent. Thus, the inner or third score line extends parallel to the outer and second score lines or concentric with the outer score line when the outer score line is a circle for at least a part of its length. This third score line 21 extends from a second point 23 which is spaced from and in close proximity with the first point 20 to a third point 24 spaced from and in close proximity with the location of merging of the first and

second score lines

14 and 21. The third score line 22 is completely free of merging with both the first and

second score lines

14 and 21 and is positioned entirely in the separable portion 15. The third score line 22 defines one side of the tear strip while the first score line 14 and the second score line 21 cooperatively define the opposite side of the tear strip.

As is further illustrated in the drawings one end 25 of the tear strip integrally joins with or merges with the remainder of the separable portion 15 and is free of score lines or other means capable of inviting a tearing of the separable portion 15. This end 25 is at the region of merging of the first and

second score lines

14 and 21 and is formed by having the inner third score line 22 stop at the third point 24 so as not to merge with or cross the second score line 21.

The tab 18 is defined by a slit 30 which extends en- I tirely through the entire thickness of the separable portion 15 and also extends from the first point 20 to the second point 23.

Sealingly aflixed to one of the surfaces of the separable portion 15, in this instance the internal surface 12 and overlying the tab portion 18 and the slit 30 is a patch 31. The patch 31 may be of any suitable material compatible with and atfixable to the material from which the end 11 is made, for example, a continuous imperforate inert film, or a sheet of the same material as the end. The patch 31 is of larger area than the tab 18 and is sealingly affixed to the separable portion 15 entirely about the tab 18 and entirely about the slit 30 so as to completely cover the tab 18, slit 30 and hermetically seal the container. The patch 31 is sealingly affixed to the separable portion 15 by bonding, adhering, soldering, welding, glueing, heat sealing, vulcanizing or any other well-known method of fastening the parts together for the purpose. The patch 31 is spaced from and thereby completely free of engagement with and securement to the peripheral portion 16. The patch 31 is atfixed to a portion of the tear strip disposed between the second and

third score lines

21 and 22.

In opening the container a person simply moves or bends the tab 18 from the plane of the separable portion 15 and the plane of the end 25 by bending the tear strip. This positions the finger engageable tab 18 as illustrated in FIG. 3 such that it may be conveniently gripped and pulled easily away from the container body so as to cause tearing along the second and

third score lines

21 and 22 until the second score line 21 is completely torn, and then continued tearing along the inner and outer or first and

third score lines

14 and 22. Continued pulling as illustrated in FIGURE 4 causes tearing entirely around the periphery of the separable portion 15 and throughout the extent of the first or outer score line 14. In this way, the separable portion 15, including its tear strip 17, tab 18 and the sealing patch 31 are completely removed and separated from the peripheral portion remaining on the container body. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4 the separable portion 15 including the patch 31 is completely removed and an opening of a size and shape as defined by the outer or first score line 14 is provided for removal of the contents from the container.

The modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 thru 7 minimizes the tendency for and the amount of undesirable spattering of the contents as the container is opened by substantially confining the spatter effect to the tear strip only. Referring to FIG. 5, the separable portion 15 of the can end 11 has a main panel 34 and a tear strip 35 terminating in a centrally disposed elongated tab 36. The first score line 14 and the second score line 21 which extends from the first point 20 and merges with the first score line cooperatively define one boundary of the tear strip in the same manner as in the preferred embodiment of the invention. The other boundary of the tear strip 35 is defined by a third or inner score line 37 and a fourth score line 38 which are positioned entirely within the separable portion 15.

The third score line 37 extends outwardly from the second point 23 in a spaced relationship from the second score line 21 and then substantially parallel with the first score line 14 for the major portion of the periphery of the separable portion 15 to a point 39. The fourth score line 38 merges smoothly with the third score line 37 at the point 39 and continues outwardly towards but does not intersect the first score line 14 to leave a small unscored gap 40 therebetween. Preferably, the gap 40 is in the range of ,4 of an inch for aluminum alloy ends having an .008" thickness. It is to be understood, however, that the magnitude of the gap 40 may be varied depending upon the type and thickness of the material from which the end 11 is formed. The gap 40 is generally spaced a predetermined distance from the second score line 21 as will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the fourth score line 38 is initially tangent to the third score line 37 at the point 39 and curves smoothly outwardly therefrom to terminate in a position extending substantially radially of the end. However, it is to be understood that the curvature of the fourth score line 38 is .a matter of choice, the important considerations being that it merge smoothly with the third score line 37 and terminate short of intersecting the first score line 14 to form the unscored gap 40. For example, in a further modification shown in FIG. 8, the fourth score line 38 is substantially a straight line tangent to the third score line 37 at the point 39 and extending towards the outer or first score line 14.

The tab 36 which is defined by a modified U-shaped slit 43 extending through the entire thickness of the separable portion 15 from the first point 20 to the second point 23 is generally disposed slightly above the plane of the main panel 34 of the separable portion. Preferably, the tab 36 is substantially centrally positioned on the end 11 and is sufiiciently large to permit a person to conveniently and easily grip it in order to pull and sever the tear strip 35 from the end 11. The patch 31 which is sealingly affixed to the internal surface 12 of the end 11 completely covers the tab 36 and slit 43 to hermetically seal the end in the same manner as in the preferred embodiment previously described.

The tab 36 has an elongated depressed rib or bead 44 formed therein to rigidity and strengthen the tab. The

bottom surface 45 of the rib'44is disposed substantially in the plane of the main panel 34 and adhesively secured to the patch 31 to maintain the tab 36 in a position closely adjacent the patch 31 as shown in FIG. 6. The tab 36 terminates in an upturned lip 46 to facilitate the insertion of a fingernail thereunder for lifting the tab and breaking the bond between the patch 31 and the adjacent surface 45 of the rib 44.

Preferably, as the tab 36 is formed, it is struck with a hard blow or otherwise worked to cause it to spread out somewhat and have lateral dimensions greater than the opening in the separable portion 15 defined by the slit 43. For example, in forming the lip 46, the metal adjacent thereto may be flattened slightly to increase the dimensions of the tab 36 adjacent the lip. When the tab 36 is thus formed, the edges of the main panel 34 formed by the slit 43 interfere with the passage of the tab through the opening in the separable portion defined by the slit. This insures against accidental pressing of the tab 36 into the container thereby breaking the patch 31 and allowing the contents to escape from the container.

In opening the container illustrated in FIGS. 5 thru 8, the tab 36 is first lifted by the finger of a user to break the bond between the-tab surf-ace 45 and patch 31 and positioning the tab for easy finger engagement on both surfaces of the tab. Thereafter the tab is gripped and pulled outwardly away from the container so as to cause tearing of the end 11 along the score lines 21, 14 and 37.

After the tear strip 35 has been pulled away to the point 39, tearing proceeds along the score lines 38 and 14 during which period, due to the outward direction of the tearing action, the main panel 34 of the separable portion 15 is lifted upwardly from the plane of the end with the hinge action being along the unsevered portion of the first or outer score line 14. When the tearing action has reached the gap 40 so that the tear strip is joined to the remainder of the separable portion 15 only along the unscored gap 40, further pulling of the tab 36 causes continued tearing along the first score line 14 and further lifting of the main panel 34.

After tearing along the score line 14 has proceeded to a point 47 intermediate the gap and the point at which the second score line 21 merges with the first score line 14, the main panel approaches a vertical position and a natural increased pull is required to continue with the tearing action along the score line 14, (FIG. 7). This increased force and a natural twist in the tear strip 35 causes the unscored gap 40 to break, freeing the tear strip from the main panel 34 but leaving the main panel attached to the peripheral portion 16 of the end 11 along a short length of the first score line 14 and in approximately a vertical position. After the tear strip 35 has been removed, the main panel 34 can be removed if desired by manually grasping and rocking it whereupon the unsevered portion of the first score line 14 is easily and quickly ruptured.

To achieve the action described. the width of the gap 40 and the spacing between the gap 40 and the point at which the second score line 21 merges with the first score line 14 will depend upon the type and thickness of .the material, depth of scoring, etc. In each case, a preferred gap width and spacing may be determined by test to result in rupture of the tear strip 35 along the unscored gap 40 after the main panel 34 has been raised to approximately a vertical position but is still joined to the peripheral portion 16 of the can end 11 by a short easily rupturable length of the first score line 14.

With the modified container construction, the springing action which causes the undesirable product spatter would be limited to the tear strip 35 only. Since the surface area of the tear strip 35 is relatively small in relation to that of the main panel 34, most of the product adherence to the separable portion 15 is confined to the main panel. As a result, very little spatter occurs when the tear strip 35 is separated from the main panel 34. Moreover, the

6 main panel is left in a raised position whereby the contents of the container can be easily removed. Also, with the main panel in the raised position it can be easily grasped thereby enabling the user to remove it when and if desired by a mere twist.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A metal hermetic end closure for a container having a body, said end closure comprising a central panel of a thin readily tearable material, a peripheral portion integral with said panel and sealingly engaged to an end of said body, a first score line extending around at least a part of the periphery of said panel adjacent said peripheral portion, a second score line merging with said first score line and extending inwardly of said panel, a third score line spaced from said first and second score lines and jointly therewith defining a continuous tear strip having an end disposed inwardly of said panel and extending around at least a part of the periphery of said panel, a

cut-through portion in said panel defining a manually engageable tab integrally joined to the inwardly disposed end of said tear strip, said tab being sufficiently large to be firmly gripped by the fingers of a user whereby said tab may be pulled to separate said tear strip from said panel along said second and third score lines and then along said first and third score lines, seal patch means secured to a surface of said panel and extending completely over said cut-through portion to seal the same, said seal patch means being releasably secured to at least a portion of said tab thereby preventing inadvertent displacement of said tab but permitting said tab to be manually disengaged therefrom, and a fourth score line forming a continuation of said third score line and extending towards without intersecting said first score line whereby as said tab is further pulled to separate said tear strip from said central panel along said first and fourth score lines the central panel is lifted upwardly.

2. The end closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said fourth score line is arcuate.

3. The end closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said fourth score line is a straight line tangent to said third score line.

4. The end closure set forth in claim 1 having a predetermined gap between said first seore line and the termination point of said fourth score line and a predetermined spacing between said termination point and the point at which said second score line merges with said first score line whereby said tear strip separates from said central panel by rupture of the unscored material at said 'gap after said central panel is lifted upwardly and while said central panel is still joined to said peripheral portion along an unruptured length of said first score line.

5. A metal end closure for a container adapted to be manually opened without requiring the use of a special opening tool or implement, said end closure comprising a central panel of a thin readily tearable material, a first score line dividing said panel into a separable portion within and a peripheral portion without said first score line, a second score line merging with said first score line and extending inwardly of said separable portion, a third score line disposed entirely in said separable portion, a slit in said separable portion extending through the thickness of said panel between the inwardly disposed end of said second score line and an inwardly directed end of said third score line, said slit defining manually engageable tab means sufiiciently large to be pullingly gripped by the t fingers of a user, said tab means and said separable porportion defined by said slit, said third score line cooperating with said first and second score lines to jointly therewith define a continuous removable tear strip having an inwardly disposed end terminating in said tab means and extending around at least a part of the periphcry of said separable portion, and seal patch means allixed to said separable portion to form a hermetic seal therewith and completely overlying said slit and said tab means, said seal patch means being disposed entirely within and spaced from and free of engagement with said peripheral portion, said tab means having a finger-engageable portion removed from the plane of said central panel and another portion disposed in the plane of said central panel and releasably affixed to said seal patch means thereby preventing the inadvertent displacement of said tab means but permitting said tab means to be manually disengaged therefrom and pulled upwardly to sever said tear strip from said panel and open said container.

6. An end closure for a container having a body, said end comprising a central panel. a peripheral portion integral with said panel and adapted to engage one end of said body, a first pair of spaced score lines extending around the periphery of said panel adjacent said peripheral portion, a slit extending through the thickness of said central panel partially surrounding and separating a portion of said panel spaced inwardly of said first pair of score lines to form a pull tab a continuous imperforate inert film adhesively covering said slit to seal the same, said film being releasably secured to at least a portion of said tab thereby preventing inadvertent displacement of said tab but permitting said tab to be manually disengaged therefrom, a second pair of spaced score lines defining the unsevered portion of said tab and extending outwardly from said tab toward said peripheral portion, said second pair of score lines merging with said first pair of score lines to jointly form therewith a continuous tear strip whereby upon manually freeing said tab from said film and pulling the same, the scored portions of said panel are severed thereby separating said tear strip from said panel, and a score line forming a continuation of the inwardly disposed one of said first pair of score lines and extending towards without intersecting the other of said first pair of score lines whereby as said tab is further pulled to sever said panel along said continuation score line the central panel is lifted away from said peripheral portion.

7. The end closure set forth in claim 6 having said central panel disposed substantially in a flat plane and wherein said tab is provided with a portion disposed in the plane of said central panel and affixed to said sealing film and another portion disposed in a plane spaced from the plane of said central panel.

8. The end closure set forth in claim 6 wherein said tab and said central panel have cooperative means to prevent the passage of said tab through said central panel and into said sealing film.

9. The end closure set forth in claim 6 wherein said tab is provided with a finger engageable portion removed from the plane of the central panel and a portion disposed in the plane of said central panel and affixed to said sealing film.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,643,958 10/27 Rooney 220-54 1,737,020 11/29 Peters 220-54 1,955,431 4/34 Lymburner 220-54 2,011,778 8/35 Sebell .a 220-54 2,112,231 3/38 Speidel 220-54 2,787,394 4/57 Baumann 215-46 2,946,478 7/60 Clair et al. 220-54 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

Claims

1. A METAL HERMETIC END CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER HAVING A BODY, SAID END CLOSURE COMPRISING A CENTRAL PANEL OF A THIN READILY TEARABLE MATERIAL, A PERIPHERAL PORTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID PANEL AND SEALINGLY ENGAGED TO AN END OF SAID BODY, A FIRST SCORE LINE EXTENDING AROUND AT LEAST A PART OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL ADJACENT SAID PERIPHERAL PORTION, A SECOND SCORE LINE MERGING WITH SAID FIRST SCORE LINE AND EXTENDING INWARDLY OF SAID PANEL, A THIRD SCORE LINE SPACED FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND SCORE LINES AND JOINTLY THEREWITH DEFINING A CONTINUOUS TEAR STRIP HAVING AN END DISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID PANEL AND EXTENDING AROUND AT LEAST A PART OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL, A CUT-THROUGH PORTION IN SAID PANEL DEFINING A MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE TAB INTEGRALLY JOINED TO THE INWARDLY DISPOSED END OF SAID TEAR STRIP, SAID TAB BEING SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO BE FIRMLY GRIPPED BY THE FINGERS OF AUSER WHEREBY SAID TAB MAY BE PULLED TO SEPARATE SAID TEAR STRIP FROM SAID PANEL ALONG SAID SECOND AND THIRD SCORE LINES AND THEN