US3335899A

US3335899A - Container

Info

Publication number: US3335899A
Application number: US448023A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd G Dunn
Original assignee: Aluminum Company of America
Current assignee: Howmet Aerospace Inc
Priority date: 1965-04-14
Filing date: 1965-04-14
Publication date: 1967-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-15

Description

' Aug. 15, 1967 G, DU N 3,335,899

CONTAINER Filed April 14, 1965 INVENTOR.

LLOYD G. DUNN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,335,899 CQNTAINER Lloyd G. Dunn, Richmond, Ind., assignor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 448,023 3 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE A container having a scored tear out panel designed to be removed manually by means of an attached opening tab. The tear out panel is defined by two joined score lines spaced from each other to form a tear strip which extends from the area of the opening tab attachment toward the periphery of the panel. The inside score line diverges from the outside score line and terminates in an acute inwardly directed arc, which configuration prevents severance of the tear strip across its width during opening.

This invention relates to containers having an opening tab attached to an end wall provided with a tear-out section so that the container may be opened manually, without the use of a special opening tool. More particularly, the invention is advantageously employed in such containers as are used for solids or semi-solids Where a large opening in the container is desired to facilitate easy access to the contents.

Easy opening means for containers have been found particularly useful on metal cans. In such application, the opening tab is often attached to a tear-out section of a metal can end, which end is then joined to the can body in a conventional manner, as by double seaming. This invention is quite useful in such application, or any application in which a tab is attached to the end of a container made entirely of metal or in part of such materials as cellulose fiber, foil and cellulose fiber laminate, glass or plastic.

The tab opening container end wall for solid or semisolid product has heretofore been primarliy the peripheral tear strip type where two substantially parallel score lines extend around the end wall of the container in close proximity to the periphery. The panel of the end wall circumscribed by the peripheral tear strip is removed by exerting opening force on the tab to initially rupture the score lines forming the tear strip and continuing such rupture along both lines to remove the entire peripheral tear strip. The means of gaining access to the container product is not well adapted to large diameter container ends particularly, as the tear strip is quite long in over-all length and it becomes awkward to handle while the container is being opened. A person opening such containers having this type of score configuration has a tendency to release his grip on the tab and grasp the tear strip thereby becoming susceptible to injury by cutting his fingers or hand. Moreover, such tear strip opening arrangement has a tendency near the completion of the tear strip and panel removal process to have a portion of the end wall panel dip into the contents of the container and flip some of the product out.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container with an improved score configuration for a full panel tear out end wall.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container with a score configuration that eliminates a long tear strip for a full panel tear-out of an end wall.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved score configuration for a container end wall that has a tab opening device attached to it for opening without the use of a special opening tool, that eliminates a ice long tear strip for a full panel tear-out section of the container end wall.

The invention in respect of the foregoing and other features and advantages will be understood from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a top of a can utilizing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1 showing the score configuration without the opening tab attached.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of the contaner shown in FIG. 1 partially opened;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternate score configuration within the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another alternate score configuration within the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention may be employed in connected with a container such as a metal can body 1, provided with an end wall such as a metal can end 2, to which an opening tab 8 is attached. Both the container end wall 2 and the tab 8 are made of sheet metal, preferably aluminum, but other ductile metals may be used. Other types of container bodies may be utilized, such as those of glass, foil and fiber laminate, or plastic. The container end wall 2 is scored or weakened along line 3, which has its starting point near the center of the end wall 2 and extends arcuately therefrom toward the periphery of the end wall to a point '13, and then around the entire periphery in close proximity to the chime 4 formed by double seaming the end wall 2 to the can body 1. The second or inner score line 5 also starts near the center of the end wall 2. The first score line 3 and the second score line 5 meet at a point 6 close to the center of the end wall 2 to form continuous scoring. The startting end 7 of the tear strip enclosed within the score lines 3 and 5 is the portion of the tear strip to which the opening tab 8 is attached by any suitable means. The opening tab may be of the rigid lever type or the flexible inelastic type. FIGS. 1 and 3 show a rigid lever type tab provided with reinforcing ribs 12. The common method of attaching the opening tab to the container end wall is by an integral rivet 9 formed from the metal of the end wall 2 so that the end wall is continuous, without any break in the metal, thus assuring a hermetically sealed container. The opening tab 8, however, may be joined to the starting end 7 of the tear strip by welding, soldering, separate rivet or any other suitable means of attachment.

The second score line 5 also extends from near the center of the end wall 2 at substantially equal distances from the first score line 3 over a distance defining a short tear strip portion between the starting end near the center of the end wall 2 and the periphery of the end wall. The first score line 3 extends around the periphery of the end wall and the second score line 5 diverges gradually from the peripheral first score line a short distance from the point 13 on the periphery of the end wall and terminates in an acute inwardly directed are 10 of about 270. This are 10 is of particular importance as without it the desirable opening characteristics may not be achieved. After initially rupturing the end wall 2 by exerting force on the opening tab 8, the score lines 3 and 5 begin to sever and the tear strip portion 11 beginning at the starting end 7 separates from the end wall 2. As the tearing of the two score lines continues, it reaches the periphery of the end Wall at the point 13, then the tearing continues primarily along the outer score line 3 around the periphery of the end wall. The te-ar strip portion 11 is of suficient length and is narrow enough so that the strip will twist in the shape of a helix as the score line 3 is being severed around the periphery of the end wall. Further, tearing along the inside or second score line is only slight during the severing of the score line 3 around the periphery of the end wall. If, however, the acute inwardly directed are was not provided for in the score configuration, the thin metal of the end wall 2 would in many instances fracture and tear across from the inside second score line 5 to the outer peripheral score line 3, thus breaking the opening tab 8 and attached short tear strip portion away from the container end wall 2 before the tear-out panel was entirely removed. The acute inwardly directed are 10 of the score line 5 relieves any applied opening force that would have a tendency to rip the metal across the strip from the inner score line 5 to the peripheral score line 3 as the peripheral score line is being progressively severed around the container end wall 2. It is for this reason that the acute inwardly directed arc 10 may actually terminate pointing in the approximate direction of the point 13 on the peripheral score line 3.

FIG. 3 shows the container end wall 2. partially opened when the score configuration is in accordance with this invention. The opening tab 8 is pulled outwardly from the container end wall 2 to initially rupture the scoring at the starting end of the tear strip 7 and separate the tear strip section 11 from the end wall 2. As the opening force is continued as by pulling on the opening tab, the force progressively severs the outer peripheral score line 3 around the entire periphery of the end wall 2 while the short narrow tear strip portion 11 twists in the shape of a helix. It is also important that by employing this invention the tear strip desirably is helix-shaped and does not have a tendency to kink during the opening operation. Kinking of the tear strip is desirably avoided as the metal would have a strong tendency to fracture at the point of stress caused by a kink and the tab and tear strip would break off prior to complete removal of the tear-out panel of the end wall 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are alternative forms of the invention hereinabove described and each form functions in the same manner and has the same desirable characteristics. In FIGURE 4, the starting end 7 of the tear-strip 11 is near the periphery of the end wall 2 and the inside second score line 5 terminates in an acute inwardly directed are 10 intermediate the center and periphery of the end wall 2. The short tear strip '11 is primarily along the periphery of the end wall 2.

The score configuration shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 except that the first score line 3 is not continuously arcuate from the starting end 7 to the outer periphery of the end wall 2 at a point 13 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but rather it is initially arcuate then has a substantially straight line portion meeting the periphery of the end wall 2 at the point 13.

The description in specific detail of the selected practice of the invention will suggest to those skilled in the art, various changes, substitutions and other departures from any disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container having an end wall provided with scoring which defines a tear-out panel to be removed, including a short tear strip portion having a starting end to which an opening tab is attached, said tear strip portion being defined by a first score line and a second score line which meet at the starting end of said tear strip to form continuous scorings, said score lines as they extend from said starting end being substantially equal distances apart so as to define a tear strip portion of narrow, substantially uniform width, said first score line extending toward and then around the periphery of the end wall, and said second score line beyond said tear strip portion diverging gradually from said first score line and terminating in an acute inwardly directed arc, whereby fracturing and tearing across the tear strip portion is avoided when the tear-out panel is removed by exerting force on the opening tab.

2. A container having an end wall provided with scoring which defines a tear-out panel to be removed, including a short tear strip portion having a starting end to which an opening tab is attached located near the center of the end wall, said tear strip portion being defined by a first score line and a second score line which meet at the starting end of said tear strip portion to form continuous scorings, .said score lines as they extend from said starting end being substantially equal distances apart so as to define a tear strip portion of narrow, substantially uniform width, said first score line extending toward and then around the periphery of the end wall, and said second score line beyond said tear strip portion diverging gradually from said first score line and terminating in an acute inwardly directed arc, whereby fracture and tearing across the tear strip portion is avoided when the tear-out panel is removed by exerting force on the opening tab.

3. A container having an end wall provided with scoring which defines a tear-out panel to be removed, including a short tear strip portion having a starting end to which an opening tab is attached located near the center of the end wall, said tear strip portion being defined by a first score line and a second score line which meet at the starting end of said tear strip portion to form continuous scorings, said score lines as they extend from said starting end being substantially equal distances apart and arcuate so as to define an arcuate tear strip portion of narrow, substantially uniform width, said first score line extending arcuately from the starting end to and then around the periphery of the end wall, and said second score line beyond said tear strip portion diverging gradually from said first score line and terminating in an acute inwardly directed arc, whereby fracture and tearing across the tear strip portion is avoided when the tear-out panel is removed by exerting force on the opening tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1965' Huth 220-54 5/1966 Bozek 22054-

Claims

1. A CONTAINAR HAVING AN END WALL PROVIDED WITH SCORING WHICH DEFINES A TEAR-OUT PANEL TO BE REMOVED, INCLUDING A SHORT TEAR STRIP PORTION HAVING A STARTING END TO WHICH AN OPENING TAB IS ATTACHED, SAID TEAR STRIP PORTION BEING DEFINED BY A FIRST SCORE LINE AND A SECOND SCORE LINE WHICH MEET AT THE STARTING END OF SAID TEAR STRIP TO FORM CONTINUOUS SCORINGS, SAID SCORE LINES AS THEY EXTEND FROM SAID STARTING END BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL DISTANCES APART SO AS TO DEFINE A TEAR STRIP PORTION OF NARROW, SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM WIDTH, SAID FIRST SCORE LINE EXTENDING TOWARD AND THEN AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE END WALL, AND SAID SECOND SCORE LINE BEYOND SAID TEAR STRIP PORTION DIVERGING GRADUALLY FROM SAID FIRST SCORE LINE AND TERMINATING IN AN ACUTE INWARDLY DIRECTED ARC, WHEREBY FRACTURING AND TEARING ACROSS THE TEAR STRIP PORTION IS AVOIDED WHEN THE TEAR-OUT PANEL IS REMOVED BY EXERTING FORCE ON THE OPENING TAB.