US3251502A

US3251502A - Safe opening can

Info

Publication number: US3251502A
Application number: US331293A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren J Hayford
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1963-12-17
Filing date: 1963-12-17
Publication date: 1966-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-17
Also published as: AT248316B; GB1019057A

Description

May 17, 1966 w. J. HAYFORD SAFE OPENING CAN 2 Sheets-Shree?l l INVENTOR Hm/F020 waQQEM May 17, 1966 w. J. HAYFORD SAFE OPENING CAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1'?, 1965 INVENTOR UUAQQEM J. Haw/FORD ATTORNEYS r ously cut. portion of the end panel precludes the dispensing of many United States Patent O 4 3,251,502 SAFE OPENING CAN Warren J. Hayford, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 331,293 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) This invention relates in general tonew and useful improvements in container construction and more particularly to a can having an easy opening end wherein a major portion of the end panel thereof is removable by means of a tear strip.

At thepresent time a limited number of cans are being provided with ends of the easy opening type wherein a peripheral tear strip is provided and when this tear strip is torn from the can end, a major portion of the end panel of the end is removed 'with the tear strip. These opening devices have proved to be successful as far as the opening of the can is concerned. However, due to the fact that the tear strip must have the outermost boundary thereof spaced inwardly from the chuck wall of the can end, when the major portion of the end panel of the can end is removed by a tearing of the tear strip, there remains a narrow angular outer por-tion of the end panel which terminates at its inner edge in a sharp edge resulting from the tearing of the tear strip therefrom. It will be readily apparent that such a can construction is deficient for two primary reasons. In the lirst place, the raw edge is in a position wherein one placing their hand or fingers within the opened end of the can is very apt to be seri- Secondly, the inwardly projecting remaining products from cans. It will be readily apparent that when the product is relatively solid, as opposed to being relatively fluid, the inwardly projecting remaining portion of the end panel will bar thefree movement of the product out of theA opened end. These problems have not been encountered in the past wherein the end panels are removed through the opening of cans utilizing can openers in that mechanical can openers leave a very minimum portion of the end panel and that portion of the end panel remaining attached to the can is forced downwardly alongside the body of the can by the cutter blade.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel safe can which is provided with an easy opening end of the type wherein a major portion of the end panel of the end is removed by means of a peripheral tear strip, the can differing from existing cans which are provided with easy opening ends in that at least the end portion of the can body is flared or stepped so that although the outer boundary of the tear strip is spaced from the chuck wall of the end, the can body continues to serve as a shield for the raw edge of the remaining portion of the end after the removal of the end panel thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can having an easy opening end whereby the can may be readily opened for the purpose' of dispensing the contents thereof,that portion of the can body to which the easy opening end is attached being flared whereby the portion of the end remaining after the opening thereof in no way interfere with the dispensing of the product from within the can.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can body particularly adapted for use with ends of the easy opening type, the can body having an end portion adapted to receive an easy opening end, and the end portion being outwardly. flared whereby when an easy opening end is secured to the can body, the outer periphery of the tear strip is disposed in direct overlying Patented May 17, 1966 ICC relation to the outwardly flared portion of -the can body so that this outwardly flared portion of the can body both shields the remaining raw edge of the end after the open ing thereof and provides the necessary clearance for the dispensing of a relatively solid product contained within the can.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel can construction which utilizes an end of the easy opening type wherein a major portion of the end is removed by means of a peripheral tear strip, the can including a can body having the end portion thereof to which the can end is to be attached ared outwardly, and the can end having an end panel which includes an outer ilared portion corresponding generally to the flaring of the can body and the outer periphery of the tear strip overlying the flared portion of the can body wherein when the removable portion of the can end is removed in the opening of the can, the remaining raw edge of the can end is disposed immediately adjacent to and overlying the flared portion of the can body'wherein this raw edge is entirely shielded by this flared portion of the can body. v

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel can construction which includes a can end of the easy opening type having a peripheral tear strip for the purpose of removing a major portion of the end panel of the can end, the can including a canl body which has a bead which 'is inwardly directed immediately below the outer boundary of the tear strip wherein when the can is opened by the removal of the tear strip, the remaining raw edge of the can end directly overlies and is protected by the bead of the can body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can end of the easy opening type wherein when the can end is opened, the remaining raw edge is protected, the can end including an end panel which includes an outer portion directly connected to a chuck wall thereof, the outer portion of the end panel being in the form of an inwardly directed bead, and the end panel being provided with a peripheral tear strip of which the outer border is disposed at the intersection of the main portion of the inner panel with the outer portion thereof so that when the main portion of the end panel is removed by tearing the tear strip therefrom,` the resultant raw edge is protected by the bead which remains attached to the chuck wall.

A still further object of this invention is to provide other novel can constructions which incorporate other advantageous combinations of the aforementioned can ble safe can results.

Yet another object of this invention is to providel a novel can construction which is provided with a can end of the easy opening type, the end of the can body to which the easy opening can end is attached being outwardly flared whereby like cans may be readily stacked when stored or shipped.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafterA appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through an opened upper end of a conventional type of can incorporating a conventional type of easy opening end and clearly showing the deficiencies of such a can.

-lFIGURE 2 is a top perspective view of the upper portion only of a can formed in accordance with this invention, the can being shown in a partially opened condition.`

3 of FIGURE 2 along the line 3-3 and shows both the specific construction of the can and the manner in which a like can may be stacked in partially nested relation therewith.A

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2 and shows a cross section through the upper end of the can similar to that of FIGURE 3 but with the tear strip partially removed so as to clearly illustate the open condition of the safe can.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 and shows a modified form of can end construction.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE 4 and shows the can end of FIGURE 5 in its opened state.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through an upper portion of a can incorporating a can end similar to that of FIGURES 5 and 6, but with the position of the outer boundary of the score line being shifted.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through another form of can construction which incorporates the can end of FIGURE 3 but wherein the can body is of the tapered type.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a can construction which includes -a tapered can body and the can end of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through the upper portion of another form of can construction wherein the can body thereof is provided with an upwardly directed bead at the intersection of the flared upper portion of the can body with the cylindrical portion and the outer'score line defining the tear strip is disposed in the recess formed by such bead.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a modification of the can construction of FIGURE 10 wherein an upwardly and outwardly fiared outer portion of the end panel of the can end is provided with an upwardly directed bead immediately adjacent the outer score line of the tear strip.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through still another form of can construction wherein the can tbody has a tapered outer po.- tion which vis provided with an upwardly directed bead, and the can end has a tear strip of which the outer score line is in overlying relation to the bead of the can body.

FIGURE 13 is Ian enlarged fragmentary vertical sec-l tional view taken through a modification of the can construction of FIGURE 12 and shows the can end as having an upwardly directed bead immediately outwardly of the outer score line thereof whereby when the can is opened, the resultant raw edge is protected by a bead on the can end and a bead on the can body.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIGURE 1 wherein there is illustrated a typical prior art can construction, generally referred to by the numeral 15. The can construction 15 includes a can body, generally referred to by the numeral 16, and-a can end, generally referred to by the numeral 17. The can body 16 is of the conventional type and includes a straight cylindrical body portion 18 which has secured to the upper end thereof the can end 17 by means of -a conventional double seam 19. The can end 17 has a chuck wall 20 which extends down alongside the inner surface of the body portion 18 at the upper end thereof and then terminates in a horizontally directed end panel 21. Only a small portion of the end panel 21 remains after the opening of the can 15. It is to be understood that the end panel 21 is initially provided with a pair of score lines which define a peripheral tear strip and that in the opening of the can 15, the tear strip is torn out with the result that a major portionA of the end panel 21 is removed. As a result of the tearing out of the major portion of the end panel 21, that portion of the end panel 21 remaining is provided with a sharp raw edge 22.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the prior art can construction 15 has two major deficiencies. In the Ifirst place, the raw edge 22 is in an exposed position whereby anyone placing their hand or fingers within the opened can 15 for any purpose whatsoever may be severely cut. In addition, since the remaining portion of the end panel 21 projects into the interior of the can body 16, it will be seen' that when relatively solid products are packaged within the can 15, the dispensing thereof will be hindered by the inwardly projecting end panel 21. This invention is directed to the provision of safe cans which overcome the two above-mentioned deficiencies of the existing prior art can 15.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that there is illustrated a lcan which is formed in accordance with this invention, the can being generally referred to by the numeral 23. The can 23 includes a can body generally referred to by the numeral 24. The can body 24 includes a cylindrical body portion 25 which extends a major portion of the height of the can body 24 and which has secured to the lower end thereof a conventional type of can end (not shown), The can body 24 differs fromconventional types ofcan bodies in that in addition to the cylindrical body portion 25, it includes an outwardly flaring upper body portion 26. The upper body portion 26 terminates in a cylindrical extreme upper portion 27.

The can 23 also includes a can end of the easy opening type, the can end being generally referred to by the numeral 28. The can end 28 is secured to the can body 24 by means of -a conventional double seam 29 and has an inner depending chuck wall 30 which corresponds to the body portion 27 of the can body 24. The can end 28 also includes an end panel of which a major portion 31 is generally planar and which terminates in an upwardly and outwardly flared outer portion 32. The outer portion 32 of the end panel corresponds generally to the flared portion 26 of the can body 24.

In order to facilitate the opening of the can 23 without the use of any opener, the outer periphery of the main portion of the end panel is defined by an annular tear strip 33. The annular tear strip 33 is defined 4by an inner score line 34 and an outer score line 35, the score line 35 being disposed at the intersection of the main portion 31 and the flared portion 32 of the end panel.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it will `be seen that the tear strip 33 also includes an inwardly directed starting portion 36 to which there is secured in .any desired manner a pull tab 37 which facilitates the initial tearing of the tear strip starting portion 36 from the end panel.

In the opening of the can 23, an upward force is directed on the pull tab 37 by means of which the starting portion 36 of the tear strip is torn from the end panel. A continued upward pull on the pull tab 37 results in the complete tearing of the tear strip 33 from the end panel with the result that all of the main portion 31 of the end panel is torn Ifrom the can, as -is shown in FIG- URE 4. When the can 23 is opened, it will be apparent that all of the can end 28 disposed in alignment with or inwardly of the cylindrical body portion 25 of the can body 24 has been removed. The can end 28 now terminates iat the inner edge of the flared portion 32 of the end panel and there remains what may be considered a raw edge 38 along the prior position of the score line 35. It is to be noted that this raw edge 38 is completely protected by the ared portion 26 of the can body 24. Further, since the raw edge 33 is retracted with respect to the cylindrical body portion 25, that portion of the can end 23 remaining attached to the can body 24 in no Way hinders the removal of the product packaged within the can 23.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6 in particular, it will =be seen that there is illustrated a modified form of can which is generally referred -to by the numeral 4d. The can 4? includes a can body which is identical with the can body 24 and will lbe so identiiied. The can 40 also includes a can end 41 of the easy opening type which is secured to the can -body 24 by means of a conventional double seam 42. The can end 42 includes a depending chuck wall 43 which extends alongside the inner surface of the body portion 27. The can end 41 includes an end panel, generally referred to by the numeral 44, which is integrally :formed with the chuck wall 43. The end -panel 44 includes a main portion 45 which is generally planar. The main portion 45 is removable in the opening of the can 40 and is of the same construction as the above-described main portion 31. The main portion 45 includes a peripheral tear strip 46 which is defined by an inner score line 47 and an outer score line 48.

The end panel 44 also includes an upwardly and outwardly liared portion 49 which is directly connected to the chuck wall 43. Intermediate the flared portion 49 and the main portion 45, the end panel 44 includes an upwardly and generally inwardly projecting bead 50. The bead 50 has one edge thereof disposed along. the score line 48 and intersects the main portion 45 along this line.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that when the can 40 is opened, the main portion 45 of the end panel 44 is removed. Thus when the can 40 is opened, the can end 41 terminates along the inner edge of the bead 50. Since the bead 50'is downwardly directed towards the flared portion 26 of the can body 24, it' will be seen that any raw edge 51 resulting from the opening 'of the can 40 will be directed generally ltowards the flared body portion 26. Thus the raw edge 51 is protected by both the flared ybody portion 26 `and the bead 50. In addition, it will be readily apparent that neither the raw edge 51 nor the bead 5) will in any 4way hinder the removal of a product packaged Within the can 40 in that both the bead 50 and the raw edge 51 are disposed out- .wardly Iof the cylindrical lbody portion 25.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 7 wherein there is illustrated a can 55 which is very similar to the can 40. The can 55 differs from'the can 40 only in that in lieu of the outer score line 48 `being disposed `at the intersection of the bead 50 with the main portion 45 of the end panel, the score line 48 is moved further outwardly so as to be at the intersection of the flared portion 49 and the bead 5l). Thus the lbead 50 becomes a part of the tear strip 46 and is removed therewith during the opening of the can 55. Although the Ibead 50 does not remain when the can 55 is opened, it `will be readily apparent that the flared portion 26 of the can body 24 provides adequate protection for the raw edge which will be disposed along the inneredge of the flared portion 49 of the end panel 44. The -bead '50, being a portion of the tear strip 46, serves the dual purpose of reinforcing the tear strip 46 so that it will not accidentally be ruptured during the can opening operation and also functions as a shock absorber so as to prevent the accidental rupture of the tear strip 46 from the remainder of theV end panel 44.

flared portion 67 of the end panel to assure that the' entire main portion 66 will `be removed.

It will be readily apparent that when the can 60 is opened and the main portion 66 is removed in its entirety, the can end 65 will then terminate at the inner edge of the flared portion 67. Any raw edge that may be disposed along this inner edge of the ared portion 67 will lbe protected #by the taper of the can body 61. Furthermore, be-cause the can body 61 is of the tapered construction, it will be readily apparent that with the removal of the entire main portion of the end panel, the

contents of can 60 may be readily removed.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 9 wherein there is illustrated a can which is generally referred lto by the numeral 75. The can 75 includes a can |body 61 and a can end which is generally referred to by the numeral 76. The can end 76 is constructed very similar to the can end 65 and is secured to the can body 61 by means of a conventional double seam 77. Like the can end 65, the can end 71 includes a chuck wall 7S to which there is connected an end panel 79.. The end panel 79 includes a main portion 80 which is of a generally planar configuration and an outer portion in the form of a bead 81. The main portion 80 is defined by a peripheral tear Referring now to FIGURE 8, it will be seen that there is illustrated a can construction which is generally referred to by the numeral 60. The can includes a can lbody 61 which is of the tapered construction as opposed to the normal cylindrical construction of can bodies. The can body 61 Vis normally of a drawn or extruded construction so as to be devoid of the customary side seam. The can body 61 includes a tapered or generally conical lbody portion 62-7which terminates at the upper edge `thereof in a short cylindrical portion 63 which facilitates the forming of a conventional double seam 64 which is utilized in the securement of acan end to the can body 61.

The can end 65 may be identical with the can end strip 82 which, in turn, is defined by an inner score line 83 and an outer score line 84. The outer score line 84 is disposed at the intersection ofthe bead 81 with the main portion of the end panel 79.

It will ybe readily apparent -that when the can 75 is opened with the removal of the entire main portion S0 of the end panel, the lresultant raw edge will be disposed -along the inner periphery of the ybead 81 and thus will be protected Iby both the bead S1 and by the tapered body portion 62 of the can body 61. Furthermore, -because of the tapered construction of the can body 61, it will be readily apparent that the bead 81 and the resultant r-aw edge will not be in the way of the product [being dispensed from the can body 61.

Another form of can construction, generally referred to by the numeral 85, is illustrated in FIGURE l0. The can 85 includes a can body, generally referred to by the numeral 86. The can body 86 includes a cylindrical body portion 87 which extends a major portion of the height of the can body 86 and which has the lower end thereof closed by mean-s of a conventional can end (not shown). The can body 86 has an upper outwardly flared portion 88 which is connected to the cylindric-al body portion 87 by means of a horizontally disposed bead 89. The can body 86 also includes an upper cylindrical body portion 90 which terminates in a convention double seam 91 which is utilized to secure to the can body 86 a can end, generally lreferred to by the numeral 92. The can end 92 is of the easy opening type and includes a chuck wall 93 which corresponds to the body portion 90. The canend 92 also includes an end panel, generally referred to by the numeral 94, which is formed of a generally planar main portion 96 and an upwardly and outwardly fiared portion 97, the flared portion 97 being directly connected to the chuck wall 93.

The main panel 96 is intended to be completely removed in the opening of the can 85 and is generally defined by a peripheral tear strip 98. The tear strip 98- the bead 39 and the flared can body portion 88. Further, the score line 1111i is disposed at the intersection of the main portion 96 of the can end and the flared portion 97. In addition, in the forming of the can end 92, it will Ibe seen that in alignment with the score line 106 the end panel 94 is provided with a slight downwardly directed bead 1111 which nests generally within the corner defined at the intersection of flared body portion 8S Iand the bead 89.

It will be readily apparent that when the can S is open-ed through the removal of the main portion 96 of the end panel 94, the resultant raw edge will be disposed along the inner periphery of the flared portion 97 of the can end. The `raw edge will be disposed generally within the corne-r defined by the flared portion 88 of the can body and the bead 39. Thus, it will be readily apparent that the raw edge will be fully protected by the can body. In addition, since the remaining portion ofthe can end 92 is disposed entirely outwardly of the bead 89, the can end 92 will in no way interfere with the dispensing of the contents of the can 85.

In FIGURE 11 there is illustrated a modification of the can 85, the modification being generally referred to by the numeral 105. The can 105 includes a can body 86 to which there is secured a can end, generally referred to :by the numeral 1116. The can end 106 is very similar in construction to the can end 92 land includes a chuck wall 1117 which is secured "to the cylindrical upper portion 90 of the body 86 by means of a conventional double seam 108. The can end 106 also includes an end panel generally referred to by the numeral 109. The end panel 169 includes a generally planar main portion 11i) which terminates in `an inwardly and upwardly directed bead 111 which is integrally connected to an outermost flared portion 112 of Ithe end panel 109.

In order to facilitate the removal of the entire main portion 1111 of the end panel 1119 in the opening of the can 105, there is formed on the main portion 110 an inner score line 113 and an outer score line 114 which define a removable tear strip 115. It is to be noted that the score line 114 is disposed at the intersection of the main portion 11() of the end panel 199 and the bead 111. It is also to be noted that in the formation of the end panel 110, a slight downwardly directed bead 116 is formed. The bead 116 is disposed at the intersection of the main portion 111) and the bead 111 and is seated in the corner defined yby the lbead S9 and the flared portion 88 of the can body 85.

It will be readily apparent that When the can 105 is opened and the marin portion 110 is 'removed in its entirety, the can end 106 will terminate along the inner edge of the bead 111. The resultant raw edge will then be disposed generally within the corner between the flared can body portion 88 and the bead 89. Thus the raw edge will be protected both by the specific construction of the can body 36 and by the bead 111 of the can end 166. Due to this particular location of the resultant raw edge, it will be readily apparent that it will be impossible for 'anyone to cut themselves on the raw edge. In addition, it will be readily apparent that all of the can end 106 remaining after the opening of the can 105 will be disposed outwardly of the bead 89 and thus not in the way of the product contained within the can during the dispensing thereof.

Referring now to FIGURE 12, it will be seen that.

there is illustrated a can construction which is generally referred to by the numeral 117. The can 117 includes a can body which is generally referred to lby the numeral 118. The can lbody 118 is of the tapered type and includes a tapered or generally conical body Wall 119. The can 117 also includes a can end 65 which is secured to the can body 118 by means of a conventional double seam 120. The can end 65 has a chuck wall 65 which is in face-to-face engagement with the inner surface of Aa cylindrical upper portion 121 of the can body 118.

The end 65 also includes an end panel which is shaped to define a main portion 66 that is generally planar and an outer upwardly flared portion 67. The body v/all 119 is provided with an inwardly directed bead 122 which is positioned so that the main portion 66 of the end panel seats generally on the bead 122 and the score line 7i) which defines the outer periphery of the tear strip 63 is disposed along the upper boundary of the bead 122. Thus, it will be readily apparent that when the can 117 is opened by removing the main portion 66 through the tearing away of the tear strip `68, the resultant raw edge will be along the inner boundary of the flared portion 67 of the end panel and thus be protected by the bead 122. Thus the bead 122 together with the flaring of the body Wall 119 and the end panel portion 67 provides for a complete protection of the raw edge against accidental engagement by ones fingers or hand.

In FIGURE 13 there is illustrated a modification of the can 117, the modified can being generally referred to bythe numeral 125. The can 125 is formed of the can body 118 together with the can end 76 of FIGURE 9 with the can end 76 being secured to the can body 118 by means of a conventional double seam 126. It will be readily apparent that in the can 125, when the same is opened through the removal of the main portion 80 of the end panel 79, the raw edge formed on the can end 76 through the opening action will be disposed along the inner boundary of the Ibead 81 so as to be partially protected by the bead 81. At the same time, the raw edge will be disposed along the outer boundary of the bead 122 and thus be protected by the bead 122. Since the resultant raw edge will be protected by both the bead 81 and the bead 122, it will readily apparent that there is no possibility whatsoever of ones fingers or hands coming into contact with the resultant raw edge.

It is readily apparent from the foregoing description of the various can constructions of this invention that in each instance the can construction is such that the raw edge resulting from the opening of the can utilizing a tear strip is automatically protected by the can structure. Also, it will be readily apparent that each of the cans is so constructed wherein that portion of the can end remaining attached to the can `body after the opening operation is so disposed whereby it in no way hinders the removal of a product from the can no matter what the nature of the product is.

Another advantageous feature of the cans disclosed hereinabove is that due to the fact that the easy opening end of each can is of a larger diameter than the opposite end thereof, the cans may be readily stacked, as is shown in FIGURE 3. The conventional bottom end of a can, including the projecting seam thereof, will be of a size to be received in the opening defined by the easy opening end.

Although numerous embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that other minor modifications may be made in the can constructions within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a can body having a can end of the easy opening type, said can end including an end panel having incorporated therein means tearable from said end panel to remove a major Y portion of said end panel and thereby effect the opening of the can, and said can body having an outwardly directed portion underlying an outer boundary of said removable end panel portion whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said end panel portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that no portions of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will be in a product dispensing restricting position, said can body being of the tapered type, and said'outwardly directed portion being part of an internally directed bead formed in the tapered wall of said can body.

2. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a can body having a can end of the easy opening type, said can end including an end panel having incorporated therein means tearable from said end panel to remove a major portion of said end panel and thereby effect the opening of the can, and said can body having an outwardly directed portion underlying an outer boundary of said removable end panel portion whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said end panel portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that no portions of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will be in a product dispensing `restricting position, said can end having a radially inwardly directed bead immediately adjacent to and axially outwardly of said removable portion to further shield the resultant raw edge. j

3. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a can body having a can end of the easy opening type, said can body including a cylindrical major portion and an outwardly flared end portion, and said can end includying an end panel formed of a main portion which is readily removable and a ared outer portion, said ared outer portion of said can end being in face-to-face engagement with said can body flared end portion and said can end main portion being defined by a peripheral Weakening line overlying said can body flared portion whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said can end main portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will be in a product dispensing restricting position, said flared outer portion being joined to said end panel main portion by a radially inwardly directed bead whereby the raw edge will be additionally shielded by said can end bead. i

4. A safety canof the easy opening type comprising a can body having a can end of the easy opening type, said can body including a cylindrical major portion, an outwardly iiaring end portion terminating in a seamed connection with said can end and an intermediate internal bead joining said can'body end portion to said can body major portion, and said can end including a removable end panel portion defined by a peripheral weakening line overlying the intersection of said can body end portion and said bead whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said removable end panel portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will be in a product dispensing restricting position, a recessed corner between said can body end portion and said bead and a projection corner on said can end at said weakening line with said projecting corner being seated in said recessed corner to further protect the raw edge.

5. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a can body having a can end of the easy opening type, said can body including a cylindrical major portion, an outwardly ila-ring end portion terminating in a seamed connection with said can end and an intermediate internal bead joining said can body end portion to said can body major portion, and said can end including a removable end panel portion deiined by a peripheral weakening line overlying the intersect-ion of said can body end portion and said bead whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said removable end panel portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will be in a product dispensing restricting position, said end panel having an internal bead immediately outwardly of said weakening line to further shield the raw edge.

6. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a tapered can body having a can end of the easy opening type, said can body having a tapered body wall, and said can end including an end panel formed of a main portion which is defined by a peripheral weakening line and is readily removable and Ia ilared outer portion,

said flared outer portion being in face-to-face engagement with tapered body wall whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said can end main portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such lraw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will be in a product dispensing restricting position, said end panelincluding an internal bead immediately outwardly of said weakening line to further shield the raw edge.

7. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a tapered can body having a can end of the easy opening type, said can body having a tapered body wall, and said can end including an end panel formed of a main portion which is defined by a peripheral weakening line land is readily removable and a flared outer portion, said flared outer portion being in face-to-face engagement with tapered body wall whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said can end main portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will be in a product dispensing restricting position, said tapered body wall having an internal bead immediately below said end panel main portion to further shield the raw edge.

8. A safety can of the easy opening type comprising a tapered can body having a can end of the easy opening type, said can body having a tapered body wall, and said can end including an end panel formed of a main portion which is deiined by a peripheral weakening line and is readily removable and a flared outer portion,

vsaid ilared outer portion being in face-to-face engagement with tapered body wall whereby a raw edge resulting from the removal of said can end main portion will be disposed outwardly of an immediately adjacent portion of said can body thereby providing for the shielding of such raw edge while assuring that no portion of said can end remaining after the opening of said can will be in a product dispensing restricting position, said end including an internal bead immediately outwardly of said weakening line, and said tapered body wall having an internal bead immediately below said end panel main portion to further shield the raw edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A SAFETY CAN OF THE EASY OPENING TYPE COMPRISING A CAN BODY HAVING A CAN END OF THE EASY OPENING TYPE, SAID CAN END INCLUDING AN END PANEL HAVING INCORPORATED THEREIN MEANS TEARABLE FROM SAID END PANEL TO REMOVE A MAJOR PORTION OF SAID END PANEL AND THEREBY EFFECT THE OPENING OF THE CAN, AND SAID CAN BODY HAVING AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION UNDERLYING AN OUTER BOUNDARY OF SAID REMOVABLE END PANEL PORTION WHEREBY A RAW EDGE RESULTING FROM THE REMOVAL OF SAID END PANEL PORTION WILL BE DISPOSED OUTWARDLY OF AN IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID CAN BODY THEREBY PROVIDING FOR THE SHIELDING OF SUCH RAW EDGE WHILE ASSURING THAT NO PORTIONS OF SAID CAN END REMAINING AFTER THE OPENING OF SAID CAN WILL BEIN A PRODUCT DISPENSING RESTRICTING POSITION, SAID CAN BODY BEING OF THE TAPERED TYPE, AND SAID OUTWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION BEING PART OF AN INTERNALLY DIRECTED BEAD FORMED IN THE TAPERED WALL OF SAID CAN BODY.