US3341055A - Container opening device - Google Patents

Container opening device Download PDF

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US3341055A
US3341055A US501135A US50113565A US3341055A US 3341055 A US3341055 A US 3341055A US 501135 A US501135 A US 501135A US 50113565 A US50113565 A US 50113565A US 3341055 A US3341055 A US 3341055A
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Prior art keywords
tab
cover
metallic
container
opening device
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Expired - Lifetime
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US501135A
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Radford James
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Jafford Inc
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Jafford Inc
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/28—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness
    • B65D17/401—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall
    • B65D17/4012—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall for opening partially by means of a tearing tab

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  • the present invention relates to devices for opening containers. More particularly, the invention relates to devices which facilitate making an opening in metallic covers for containers.
  • Metallic container covers in which an opening can be formed by removing therefrom a previously-scored portion thereof are well known in the art. In general, such portions are removed by grasping a ring or tab attached to one end of the scored area and, after exerting sufficient upward force as to effect the initial break, by gradually tearing out said scored area.
  • a second disadvantage of said devices is that, even after the scored area is partly removed, considerable force is still necessary to remove said scored area completely.
  • devices utilizing pull tabs it is sometimes necessary for the user to grip both the pull tab and the partly-removed scored area in order to effect the necessary force for complete removal thereof. This, in many cases, results in cuts on the users fingers due to the sharp edges of the partly-removed scored area.
  • the invention in its broad aspect, relates to an improvement in a metallic cover for a container, said cover having on its surface a continuous score line defining an inwardly extending tab, the innermost end of said tab having a substantially angular configuration, the improvement consisting of a rigid elongated member having a first and a second end, said first end having the same configuration as the innermost end of said tab; said rigid elongated member being pivotally mounted on said tab intermediate said ends for pivotal rotation about an axis perpendicular to said metallic cover from a first position wherein said elongated member lies in the area defined by the metallic cover to a second position wherein the first end of said member is in juxtaposition with the innermost end of said tab and the second end of said member extends beyond the area defined by said metallic cover.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a contained cover having mounted thereon an opening device according to the present invention, said device being shown in the nonoperative or storage position.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container cover of FIG. 1, with the opening device in the operative position.
  • FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2.
  • a preferred form of the invention comprises a circular metallic cover 10, preferably of aluminum or an alloy thereof, secured by double-seaming to a tubular can body 11 along seam 10a.
  • Cover 10 is provided with an inwardly projecting tab 12 which is defined by a continuous score line 13.
  • Said tab 12, preferably of a substantially triangular configuration, has one side substantially adjacent the circumference of metal lic cover 10 and extends inwardly toward the center of said cover, terminating into an angular point 14.
  • Pivotally mounted on said tab 12 by means of pivot member 15 is a rigid elongated metallic member 16 having a first or piercing end 17 and a second or grasping end 18.
  • Piercing end 17 is so fabricated as to conform in shape to the innermost angular end 14 of tab 12.
  • the pivot member 15, which can be a rivet formed as to be an integral part of tab 12, and the metallic member 16 are so fabricated and positioned that, when metallic member 16 is in the storage position as shown in FIG. 1, the entire length of said member will be within the area defined by circular metallic cover 10, and that, when metallic member 16 is in the operative position shown in FIG. 2, the piercing end 17 of said member will be in juxtaposition with angular end 14 of tab 12 and the grasping end 18 will extend beyond the area defined by circular cover 10.
  • Member 16 is also provided with upstanding ribs 19 and 20 which are integral therewith and which extend along the opposite edges thereof from the grasping end 18 to the piercing end 17. The function of said ribs is to prevent member 16 from bending or flexing during operation.
  • member 16 is provided at the lower face thereof with bumps 21 and 22. These bumps, which are so positioned as to engage therebetween seam 10a when member 16 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, have a dual purpose which will become apparent hereinafter.
  • the user merely picks up the container, which has been stored with member 16 positioned as shown in FIG. 1, and rotates said member 16 about pivot member 15 until piercing end 17 is in juxtaposition with angular end 14 of tab 12.
  • Bumps 21 and 22 serve to space grasping end 18 of member 16 from the container cover, thus facilitating grasping said end by the users fingers.
  • said bumps will engage therebetween seam 10a as member 16 becomes so positioned that the piercing end thereof is in exact juxtaposition with angular end 14 of tab 12. This will make it unnecessary to position member 16 by visual means and allows the device of the invention to be used efficiently under limited illumination.
  • member 16 Once member 16 is so positioned, the user merely exerts an upward force on grasping end 18 of member 16, thus effectively piercing cover 10 by means of piercing end 17 at angular end 14 of tab 12. Once initial penetration is accomplished, the user applies a downward force on grasping end 18 of member 16.
  • the depth and design of bump 22 and the height of seam 10a may be so selected that, as bump 22 comes in contact with seam 10a and rides up and over said seam when member 16 is rotated to the operative position, the resulting downward force exerted by leverage, by piercing end 17 on cover 10 is sufiicient to etfect the initial piercing of the scored tab.
  • a metallic cover for a container said cover having on its surface a continuous score line defining an inwardly extending tab, the innermost end of said tab having a substantially angular configuration
  • the improvement consisting of a rigid elongated member having a first and a second end, said first end having the same configuration as the innermost end of said tab; said rigid elongated member being pivotally mounted on said tab intermediate said ends'for pivotal rotation about an axis perpendicular to said metallic cover from a first position wherein said elongated member lies in the area defined by the metallic cover to a second position wherein the first end of said member is in juxtaposition with the innermost end of said tab and the second end of said member extends beyond the area defined by said metallic cover.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)

Description

Sept. 12, 1967 .1. RADFORD CONTAINER OPENING DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 IN\/ENTOR. v JAMES RADFORD M Z @4 A TTORNE) United States Patent M 3,341,055 CONTAINER OPENING DEVICE James Radford, New York, N.Y., assignor to Jalford, Inc., Suffer-n, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,135 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-48) The present invention relates to devices for opening containers. More particularly, the invention relates to devices which facilitate making an opening in metallic covers for containers.
Metallic container covers in which an opening can be formed by removing therefrom a previously-scored portion thereof are well known in the art. In general, such portions are removed by grasping a ring or tab attached to one end of the scored area and, after exerting sufficient upward force as to effect the initial break, by gradually tearing out said scored area.
In general, such prior art tear devices suffer from two main disadvantages. In the first place, since such devices are designed so that the initial tear along the scored line must be made by lifting one end of the scored area upwardly from the container cover, substantial force is necessary to effect said initial tear. In many cases, children do not possess sufficient strength to effect such ini tial break. Obviously, this is a significant limitation to the use of said prior art devices in conjunction with products which are used primarily by children, i.e., canned soft drinks.
A second disadvantage of said devices is that, even after the scored area is partly removed, considerable force is still necessary to remove said scored area completely. When using devices utilizing pull tabs, it is sometimes necessary for the user to grip both the pull tab and the partly-removed scored area in order to effect the necessary force for complete removal thereof. This, in many cases, results in cuts on the users fingers due to the sharp edges of the partly-removed scored area.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device for opening containers which are substantially free of one or more of the prior art disadvantages. It is another object of the invention to provide a disposable device for opening metallic containers which is relatively inexpensive and easy to fabricate. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description.
In its broad aspect, the invention relates to an improvement in a metallic cover for a container, said cover having on its surface a continuous score line defining an inwardly extending tab, the innermost end of said tab having a substantially angular configuration, the improvement consisting of a rigid elongated member having a first and a second end, said first end having the same configuration as the innermost end of said tab; said rigid elongated member being pivotally mounted on said tab intermediate said ends for pivotal rotation about an axis perpendicular to said metallic cover from a first position wherein said elongated member lies in the area defined by the metallic cover to a second position wherein the first end of said member is in juxtaposition with the innermost end of said tab and the second end of said member extends beyond the area defined by said metallic cover.
The construction and operation of the devices of the present invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a contained cover having mounted thereon an opening device according to the present invention, said device being shown in the nonoperative or storage position.
Patented Sept. 12, 1967 FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container cover of FIG. 1, with the opening device in the operative position.
FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a preferred form of the invention comprises a circular metallic cover 10, preferably of aluminum or an alloy thereof, secured by double-seaming to a tubular can body 11 along seam 10a. Cover 10 is provided with an inwardly projecting tab 12 which is defined by a continuous score line 13. Said tab 12, preferably of a substantially triangular configuration, has one side substantially adjacent the circumference of metal lic cover 10 and extends inwardly toward the center of said cover, terminating into an angular point 14.
Pivotally mounted on said tab 12 by means of pivot member 15 is a rigid elongated metallic member 16 having a first or piercing end 17 and a second or grasping end 18. Piercing end 17 is so fabricated as to conform in shape to the innermost angular end 14 of tab 12.
The pivot member 15, which can be a rivet formed as to be an integral part of tab 12, and the metallic member 16 are so fabricated and positioned that, when metallic member 16 is in the storage position as shown in FIG. 1, the entire length of said member will be within the area defined by circular metallic cover 10, and that, when metallic member 16 is in the operative position shown in FIG. 2, the piercing end 17 of said member will be in juxtaposition with angular end 14 of tab 12 and the grasping end 18 will extend beyond the area defined by circular cover 10.
Member 16 is also provided with upstanding ribs 19 and 20 which are integral therewith and which extend along the opposite edges thereof from the grasping end 18 to the piercing end 17. The function of said ribs is to prevent member 16 from bending or flexing during operation.
In addition, member 16 is provided at the lower face thereof with bumps 21 and 22. These bumps, which are so positioned as to engage therebetween seam 10a when member 16 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, have a dual purpose which will become apparent hereinafter.
To open a container according to the present inven tion, the user merely picks up the container, which has been stored with member 16 positioned as shown in FIG. 1, and rotates said member 16 about pivot member 15 until piercing end 17 is in juxtaposition with angular end 14 of tab 12. Bumps 21 and 22 serve to space grasping end 18 of member 16 from the container cover, thus facilitating grasping said end by the users fingers. In addition, as member 16 is pivotally rotated about an axis perpendicular to cover 10, said bumps will engage therebetween seam 10a as member 16 becomes so positioned that the piercing end thereof is in exact juxtaposition with angular end 14 of tab 12. This will make it unnecessary to position member 16 by visual means and allows the device of the invention to be used efficiently under limited illumination.
Once member 16 is so positioned, the user merely exerts an upward force on grasping end 18 of member 16, thus effectively piercing cover 10 by means of piercing end 17 at angular end 14 of tab 12. Once initial penetration is accomplished, the user applies a downward force on grasping end 18 of member 16. The force applied through member 16, acting as a lever utilizing seam 10a as a fulcrum, gradually detaches tab 12 from cover 10 along score line 13 until tab 12 is completely removed, providing the desired opening in cover 10.
It should be understood that the above description relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention and that changes and additions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
It should be noted, for example, that the depth and design of bump 22 and the height of seam 10a may be so selected that, as bump 22 comes in contact with seam 10a and rides up and over said seam when member 16 is rotated to the operative position, the resulting downward force exerted by leverage, by piercing end 17 on cover 10 is sufiicient to etfect the initial piercing of the scored tab.
What is claimed is:
In a metallic cover for a container, said cover having on its surface a continuous score line defining an inwardly extending tab, the innermost end of said tab having a substantially angular configuration, the improvement consisting of a rigid elongated member having a first and a second end, said first end having the same configuration as the innermost end of said tab; said rigid elongated member being pivotally mounted on said tab intermediate said ends'for pivotal rotation about an axis perpendicular to said metallic cover from a first position wherein said elongated member lies in the area defined by the metallic cover to a second position wherein the first end of said member is in juxtaposition with the innermost end of said tab and the second end of said member extends beyond the area defined by said metallic cover.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,329 2/1936 Ljungstrom et al. 220-48 3,232,474 2/1966 Dunn 220-48 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.
G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.
US501135A 1965-10-22 1965-10-22 Container opening device Expired - Lifetime US3341055A (en)

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3415411A (en) * 1966-12-06 1968-12-10 Nat Steel Corp Hand-opening sheet metal end closure
US3768692A (en) * 1970-09-18 1973-10-30 Nat Steel Corp Container easy-open structure
US3826402A (en) * 1972-08-03 1974-07-30 Continental Can Co Non-detachable easy opening container
US5224618A (en) * 1992-06-22 1993-07-06 Garbiso Michael J Easy opening tab for container
US5248053A (en) * 1990-02-02 1993-09-28 Lundgren James F Operating lever for beverage container lever operated opener
WO2008057207A2 (en) * 2006-10-26 2008-05-15 Charles Chang Beverage container construction
US11447290B2 (en) * 2016-05-31 2022-09-20 Ball Beverage Packaging Europe Limited Lid for an aluminum beverage can

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2029329A (en) * 1932-10-21 1936-02-04 Transitoria Ab Device for opening cans
US3232474A (en) * 1963-09-24 1966-02-01 Aluminum Co Of America Opening means for sealed containers

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2029329A (en) * 1932-10-21 1936-02-04 Transitoria Ab Device for opening cans
US3232474A (en) * 1963-09-24 1966-02-01 Aluminum Co Of America Opening means for sealed containers

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3415411A (en) * 1966-12-06 1968-12-10 Nat Steel Corp Hand-opening sheet metal end closure
US3768692A (en) * 1970-09-18 1973-10-30 Nat Steel Corp Container easy-open structure
US3826402A (en) * 1972-08-03 1974-07-30 Continental Can Co Non-detachable easy opening container
US5248053A (en) * 1990-02-02 1993-09-28 Lundgren James F Operating lever for beverage container lever operated opener
US5224618A (en) * 1992-06-22 1993-07-06 Garbiso Michael J Easy opening tab for container
WO1994000353A1 (en) * 1992-06-22 1994-01-06 Michael Joseph Garbiso Easy opening tab for container
WO2008057207A2 (en) * 2006-10-26 2008-05-15 Charles Chang Beverage container construction
WO2008057207A3 (en) * 2006-10-26 2008-08-21 Charles Chang Beverage container construction
US11447290B2 (en) * 2016-05-31 2022-09-20 Ball Beverage Packaging Europe Limited Lid for an aluminum beverage can

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