US3348727A

US3348727A - Container

Info

Publication number: US3348727A
Application number: US504952A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Jasper; Blase C Rau
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1965-10-24
Filing date: 1965-10-24
Publication date: 1967-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-24
Also published as: GB1103363A; AT268135B; DE1532400A1

Description

Oct- 24, 1967 J. c. JASPER ETAL CONTAINER Filed 001:. 24, 1965 INVENTORS Jouu CJASPEP. g-Bmse C RQU W, W t Mam United States Patent Ofifice 3,348,727 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 3,348,727 CONTAINER John C. Jasper, Hinsdale, and Blase C. Ran, Skokie, Ill., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,952 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in containers of the easy opening type and more particularly relates to a container having a removable panel portion which is specifically designed wherein the panel portion may be readily removed during the normal opening of the container, but at the same time remains hingedly connected to the remainder of the container when the opening of the container is abnormal and the removable portion is rapidly torn from the adjacent portion of the container.

It is to be understood that when a product is packaged under pressure in a container, the pressure reacts against the removable panel portion of the container when the container is of the easy opening type, to abnormally urge the removable panel portion to a released position. In the usual easy opening container, the removable panel portion has attached to one end thereof a tab. This tab is initially lifted and functions as -a lever to elfect the initial rupture of the removable panel portion with respect to the remainder of the container. At this time an upwardly directed force is being applied to the tab. After the initial rupture occurs, the tab is utilized as a handle to exert a pulling force on the removable panel portion and eifect the tearing thereof away from the remainder of the container. However, when extreme pressures are applied against the removable panel portion, immediately after the initial rupture there is a tendency for the pressure to blow otf the removable panel portion. Since the pull tab is not being firmly gripped at this time, the pull tab and removable panel portion frequently blow off from the remainder of the container in a manner which is uncontrolled with the possibility of serious injury to bystanders. It is the purpose of this invention to so construct a panel of an easy opening container wherein this accidental blow otf of the removable panel portion is prevented.

It has been found that the uncontrolled blow off of a removable panel portion may be easily accomplished by providing the panel in which the removable panel portion is formed with a pair of score lines which define a hinge connecting the removable panel portion to the remainder of the panel remote from the starting end of the removable panel whereby when the removable panel portion is rapidly torn from the remainder of the panel, in lieu of being completely torn from the panel, it will remain attached to thepanel by means of the hinge and will hinge relative thereto under the influence of pressure from within the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide the terminal portion of a removable panel portion with a safety horn which normally connects the removable panel portion to the remainder of the panel and which functions as a hinge between the removable panel portion and the adjacent part of the remainder of the panel adjacent the terminal end of the removable panel portion to prevent the uncontrolled blow off of the removable panel portion during the opening of the associated container.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter 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 drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a container incorporating a can end formed in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rotated top perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 and shows the container in an intermediate stage of being open.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the can end of FIGURE 1 and shows the specific details of the removable panel portion thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the can end of FIG- URE 2 taken generally along line 44 of FIGURE 2 and shows the manner in which the removable panel portion is hingedly connected to the remainder of the can end by the safety horn.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 and shows further the function of the safety horn.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 an easy opening container which is generally referred to by the numeral 10. The container 10 includes a conventional can or container 11 to which there is secured by means of a double seam 12 a can end formed in accordance with this invention, the can end being generally referred to by the numeral 13. The can end 13, except for the easy opening feature thereof, is of the conventional type and includes an end panel 14. a

In order to facilitate the pouring of a liquid from within the container 10, the end panel 14 is provided with a removable panel portion 15. The removable panel portion 15 is elongated and is defined by a peripheral weakening line in the form of a continuous score line 16. The

score line 16 includes a starting part 17, two spaced apart intermediate parts 18 and a transversely extending termi nal part 19. The removable panel portion 15 includes a starting end 21 and a terminal end 22.

In order to facilitate the tearing of the removable panel portion 15 from the end panel 14, the can end 13 is provided with an integral rivet 23. The integral rivet 23 is formed of the metal of the end panel 14 and is positioned in the starting end of the removable panel portion 15. The integral rivet 23 is utilized to secure a pull tab 24 to the removable panel portion 15. The connection between the removable panel portion 15 and the pull tab 24 is a rigid one and when the end of the pull tab 24 remote from the removable panel portion 15 is lifted, it functions as a lever to effect the initial rupture of the panel 14 along the starting part 17. At the time this initial rupture occurs, only an upwardly directed force is being applied to the pull tab 24 and there is no restraining force applied thereto by ones fingers. As a result, when the pressure in the container 10 is too great and the resistance to tearing of the removable panel portion 15 is not sufiiciently great, there will be a rapid tearing of the end panel 14 along the score line 16 with the result that the removable panel portion 15 will be blown off of the container 10' together with the pull tab 24.

The can end 13, as described above, is conventional. However, in accordance with this invention there has been made a minor change in the construction of the can end 13 which has served to prevent the uncontrolled blow olf of the removable panel portion 15. In addition to the peripheral score line 16 which defines the removable panel portion 15, the end panel 14 is provided with a pair of spaced apart score lines 25 which intersect the transverse part 19 of the score line 16 and terminate in the end panel 14. That portion of the end panel disposed between the score lines 25 is considered as a safety horn or hinge 26. It is to be noted that the safety horn 26 is connected to the major portion of the terminal score line part 19, which major portion extends transversely of the axis of the removable panel portion 15. The transverse score line part terminates at its ends in small radius sharply curved portions 27 which are integrally connected to the spaced apart intermediate portions 18 of the score line.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 4 and 5 in particular, it wil be seen that after initial rupture of the end panel 14 occurs, upward movement of the pull tab 24 will result in the rupture of the end panel 14 along the score line intermediate portions 18 and as the pull directed on the removable panel portion 15 is generally axially, the rupturing of the end panel 14 will occur along the sharply curved parts 27 and then along the two score lines 25 with the intermediate part of the terminal score line portion 19 remaining unruptured. This in termediate part is referred to by the numeral 28. The safety horn 26 will then function as a hinge as is generally shown in FIG- URE 5.

Although the removable panel portion 15 will hinge along the safety horn 26, when a transverse force is exerted on the removable panel portion 15 through the pull tab 24, the removable panel portion 15 will be torn from the safety horn 26 by the rupture of the end panel 14 along the central part 28. On the other hand, if the sudden tearing of the end panel 14 along the score line 16 is occasioned by the pressure within the container 10, then the force exerted on the removable panel portion 15 is all upwardly and axially and only hinging of the removable panel portion 15 along the safety horn 26 will occur. There will be no transverse tearing force exerted on the removable panel portion 15, and the end panel 14 will remain intact along the transverse part 28 of the terminal score line portion 19.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that although the can end 13 may differ from prior can ends only by the addition of the score lines 25, which score lines define the safety horn 26, the results obtainable with these score lines 25 are outstanding. The score lines prevent the accidental blowing off of the removable panel portion 15 by providing for a safety hinge, but in no way detract from the opening characteristics of the can end 13. Although a slight hinging will normally occur along the safety horn 26 during the opening of the container .10, the formation of the short score lines 25 will in no way deter the tearing off of the removable panel portion 15 from the remainder of the end panel 14. Thus, it may be said that the advantages of the score lines 25 and the resultant safety horn are all positive and there are no negative advantages.

It is to be understood that although only a preferred embodiment of pull tab has been illustrated and the outline of the removable panel portion 15 is that presently preferred, the invention is not so restricted.

It is also to be understood that although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described, minor variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of they invention, as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a panel of the type including a panel portion removable by tearing and wherein said removable panel portion is defined by a peripheral weakening line having a terminal portion; the improvement residing in the further weakening of said panel adjacent said weakening line terminal portion to define a hinge strap forming a continuation of said removable panel portion and preventing the complete removal of said panel portion under abnormal opening conditions.

2. The panel of claim 1 wherein said removable panel portion is elongated generally towards said terminal weakening line portion and said hinge strap extends in the direction of elongation.

3. The panel of claim 1 wherein said further weakening of said-panel is inthe form of a pair of spaced apart weakening lines extending fromsaid terminal weakening line portion.

4. The panel of claim 1 wherein said removable panel portion is elongated generally towards said terminal weakening line portion in the direction of elongation.

5.,The panel of claim 1 wherein said removable panel portion is elongated generally towards said terminal weakening line portion, said terminal weakening line por tion extends generally transversely of said removable panel portion and said hinge strap extends in the direction of elongation.

6. The panel of claim 5 wherein said further weakening of said panel is in the form of a pair of spaced apart weakening lines extending from said terminal weakening.

line portion.

7. The panel of claim 5 wherein said terminal weakening line portion includes a central part and end parts, said end portions being arcuate and connected to intermediate portions, and said hinge strap extends from said central portion.

8. The panel of claim 7 wherein said further weakem,

ing of said panel is in the form of a pair of spaced apart weakening lines extending from said terminal weakening line portion.

9. The panel of claim 7 wherein said further weakening of said panel is in the form of a pair ,of spaced. apart weakening lines extending from said terminal weakening line portion at the ends of said central part.

10. The panel of claim 7 wherein said further weakening of said panel is in the form of a pair of spaced apart weakening lines extending from said terminal weakening line portion, said end parts being relatively short and of a smal radius whereby said spaced apart weakening lines form substantially extensions of said weakening line and when said removable panel portion is rapidly torn from the panel the tearing of said panel occurs along said spaced apart weakening line instead of along said central part.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,225,957 12/1965 Huth 220-54 THERON E. CONDQN, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

1. IN A PANEL OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A PANEL PORTION REMOVABLE BY TEARING AND WHEREIN SAID REMOVABLE PANEL PORTION IS DEFINED BY A PERIPHERAL WEAKENING LINE HAVING A TERMINAL PORTION; THE IMPROVEMENT RESIDING IN THE FURTHER WEAKENING OF SAID PANEL ADJACENT SAID WEAKENING LINE TERMINAL PORTION TO DEFINE A HINGE STRAP FORMING A CONTINUATION OF SAID REMOVABLE PANEL PORTION AND PRE-