US3415411A - Hand-opening sheet metal end closure - Google Patents

Hand-opening sheet metal end closure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3415411A
US3415411A US599442A US59944266A US3415411A US 3415411 A US3415411 A US 3415411A US 599442 A US599442 A US 599442A US 59944266 A US59944266 A US 59944266A US 3415411 A US3415411 A US 3415411A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sheet metal
end closure
scoreline
hand
tab opener
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US599442A
Inventor
William T Saunders
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
National Steel Corp
Original Assignee
National Steel Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by National Steel Corp filed Critical National Steel Corp
Priority to US599442A priority Critical patent/US3415411A/en
Priority to NL6716563A priority patent/NL6716563A/xx
Priority to DE19671607897 priority patent/DE1607897A1/en
Priority to FR1561971D priority patent/FR1561971A/fr
Priority to GB55392/67A priority patent/GB1202077A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3415411A publication Critical patent/US3415411A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D17/34—Arrangement or construction of pull or lift tabs
    • B65D17/347—Arrangement or construction of pull or lift tabs characterised by the connection between the tab and a detachable member or portion of the container
    • B65D17/353—Arrangement or construction of pull or lift tabs characterised by the connection between the tab and a detachable member or portion of the container the connecting means being integral with the tab or with the detachable member or portion

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with an improvement of hand-openable, sheet metal end closures for containers.
  • this invention is concerned with improvement of hand openers which rely on class 1 type lever action as described in applicants co-pending application S.N. 495,796, entitled, Container Structure and Manufacture, filed Oct. 14, 1965.
  • a securing means such as a rivet
  • the rivet acts as a fulcrum for a class 1 lever which initiates puncture of the end closure.
  • the contribution made by the present invention acts to spread sheet metal at the periphery of the end closure puncture to overcome any possibility of binding and sets definite limits on the puncture formed which stabilizes positioning of the fulcrum.
  • FIGURE 1 is a portion of a hand-openable end closure with its tab opener located within a scoreline as described in applicants earlier patent application referred to above,
  • FIGURE 2 shows the hand opener of FIGURE 1 in a partially open position after puncture of the end closure
  • FIGURE 3 is a portion of a hand openable end closure embodying the invention
  • FIGURE 4 shows the embodiment of FIGURE 3 in a partially open position after puncture of the end closure
  • FIGURE 5 is an enlarged showing of a portion of the structure of FIGURES 3 and 4.
  • rivet secures tab opener 12 to a scored portion 14 defined by scoreline 16 on a sheet metal end closure. It should be noted that tab opener 12 is located entirely within the scoreline 16 so that a perpendicular projection of tab opener 12 on scored por- 3,415,41 I Patented Dec. 10, 1968 tion 14 falls entirely within scoreline 16. While this has a numberof advantages as set forth in applicants earlier mentioned patent application, it also has anumber of disadvantages related to binding of sheet metal along the scoreline after puncture which. will be discussed in relation to FIGURE 2.
  • FIGURE 2 which shows the structure of FIGURE 1 after puncture of the and closure, it will be seen that the class 1 lever action resulting from lifting of end 20 of tab 12 causes puncturing end 22 of lever 12 to penetrate into the container. It has been found that hecauseof the, mechanical advantage provided by thislever action, puncturing end 22 penetrates the container more than desired, e.g., beyond rivet 10, causing bending of the scored portion 14 along dotted line 24.
  • tab opener 12 In order to complete removal of the scored portion 14, tab opener 12 must be pulled backwardly in a direction opposite to that of the puncture. When attempting to remove the punctured portion of the scored sheet metal it has been found that binding occurs at points 26 and 28, such that easy removal is impeded.
  • the present invention which will be described in relation to FIGURES 3 through 5 overcomes these disadvantages of the type of hand opener shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.
  • tab opener 30 is secured to a scored portion 32 of an end closure by rivet 34.
  • Tab opener 30 includes a narrow-width curvilinear edge 36 and an opposite longitudinal end 38 which has a substantially wider configuration.
  • the narrow-width curvilinear edge 36 increases in width along legs 39 and 40 to present a wedge-shaped configuration with the wedge opening toward longitudinal end 38.
  • the class 1 lever action produced by lifting on end 38 causes narrow-width end 36 to break sheet metal along the curved configuration scoreline portion 42.
  • legs 39 and 40 of the wedge shaped configuration of the tab opener cross the scoreline at points 44 and 46 and supplement the fulcrum action of rivet means 34, that is legs 39 and 40 act to stabilize the position of the fulcrum of the class 1 lever along the longitudinal axis of the tab opener 30.
  • legs 39 and 40 in crossing of the scoreline, spread metal at the periphery of the puncture and prevent penetration of end 36 to the extent shown in applicants earlier embodiment shown in FIGURE 2.
  • a tab opener of other configurations such as a generally rectangular configuration with the wedge-shaped configuration can be used with either a pour-opening end closure and the scoreline configuration can extend around the circumference of the end closure to provide a fullopen end closure.
  • teachings of the invention are applicable to any of the conventional sheet metals used for making metallic end closures.
  • Hand-openable sheet metal end closure for a container comprising a sheet metal blank, 1 an elongated tab opener means having a narrow-width longitudinal end and a remaining longitudinal end, the narrow-width end having a curvilinear edge conopener means to the scored area of the sheet metal blank, the tab opener means being thus secured to the sheet metal blank so as to constitute a class 1 lever with the means for securing the tab opener figuration from which the width of the tab opener 5 means acting as a fulcrum so that the curvilinear means increases to define a wedge-shaped configuraedge narrow-width longitudinal end of the tab opener tion opening in the direction of the remaining longimeans punctures the sheet metal blank and forces a tudinal end of the tab opener means, portion of the scored area of the sheet metal downa scoreline of diminished metal thickness in the sheet wardly below the remainder of the sheet metal blank metal blank defining an area to be removed by the by a lifting action at the remaining longitudinal end tab opener means, the scoreline having a curvilinear of the
  • opener means crosses the scoreline adjacent to and GEORGE T HALL, Assistant Examiner. on opposite sides of the means for securing the tab

Landscapes

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

Description

Dec. 10, 1968 w. T. SAUNDERS 3,415,411
HAND-OPENING SHEET METAL END CLOSURE Filed Dec. 1966 INVENTOR WILLIAM T. SAUNDERS SM-A -LWQ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,415,411 HAND-OPENING SHEET METAL END CLOSURE William T. Saunders, Weirton, W. Va., assignor to National Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 599,442
1 Claim. (Cl. 220-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved hand-openable metal end closure in which an elongated tab opener is secured to the end closure to provide class 1 lever action for puncture of the end closure along a preformed scoreline. The tab opener has a wedge-shaped configuration at its puncturing end. Portions of the tab opener forming the wedge-shaped configuration cross the scoreline and prevent puncturing beyond a desired limit and spread sheet metal along the scoreline to make possible removal of the punctured portion of sheet metal from the remainder of the end closure without binding along the scoreline.
This invention is concerned with an improvement of hand-openable, sheet metal end closures for containers.
More specifically, this invention is concerned with improvement of hand openers which rely on class 1 type lever action as described in applicants co-pending application S.N. 495,796, entitled, Container Structure and Manufacture, filed Oct. 14, 1965. With this type of hand opener a securing means, such as a rivet, is used for securing a tab (handle) to a sheet metal end closure. The rivet acts as a fulcrum for a class 1 lever which initiates puncture of the end closure. While this structure provides easy hand operation, it has been found that, with the high mechanical advantage available for puncturing a sheet metal end closure because of applicants earlier invention, a greater portion of the sheet metal to be removed from the end closure is forced downwardly below the level of the remaining portion of the sheet metal in the end closure than is desired. When this portion of sheet metal is pulled backwardly to complete opening of the container, it binds with the periphery of the puncture for-med in the end closure and, for an instant, impedes completion of opening.
The contribution made by the present invention acts to spread sheet metal at the periphery of the end closure puncture to overcome any possibility of binding and sets definite limits on the puncture formed which stabilizes positioning of the fulcrum.
In describing a specific embodiment reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a portion of a hand-openable end closure with its tab opener located within a scoreline as described in applicants earlier patent application referred to above,
FIGURE 2 shows the hand opener of FIGURE 1 in a partially open position after puncture of the end closure,
FIGURE 3 is a portion of a hand openable end closure embodying the invention,
FIGURE 4 shows the embodiment of FIGURE 3 in a partially open position after puncture of the end closure, and
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged showing of a portion of the structure of FIGURES 3 and 4.
Referring to FIGURE 1, rivet secures tab opener 12 to a scored portion 14 defined by scoreline 16 on a sheet metal end closure. It should be noted that tab opener 12 is located entirely within the scoreline 16 so that a perpendicular projection of tab opener 12 on scored por- 3,415,41 I Patented Dec. 10, 1968 tion 14 falls entirely within scoreline 16. While this has a numberof advantages as set forth in applicants earlier mentioned patent application, it also has anumber of disadvantages related to binding of sheet metal along the scoreline after puncture which. will be discussed in relation to FIGURE 2.
Referring to FIGURE 2, which shows the structure of FIGURE 1 after puncture of the and closure, it will be seen that the class 1 lever action resulting from lifting of end 20 of tab 12 causes puncturing end 22 of lever 12 to penetrate into the container. It has been found that hecauseof the, mechanical advantage provided by thislever action, puncturing end 22 penetrates the container more than desired, e.g., beyond rivet 10, causing bending of the scored portion 14 along dotted line 24.
In order to complete removal of the scored portion 14, tab opener 12 must be pulled backwardly in a direction opposite to that of the puncture. When attempting to remove the punctured portion of the scored sheet metal it has been found that binding occurs at points 26 and 28, such that easy removal is impeded. The present invention which will be described in relation to FIGURES 3 through 5 overcomes these disadvantages of the type of hand opener shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.
Referring to FIGURE 3, elongated tab opener 30 is secured to a scored portion 32 of an end closure by rivet 34. Tab opener 30 includes a narrow-width curvilinear edge 36 and an opposite longitudinal end 38 which has a substantially wider configuration.
The narrow-width curvilinear edge 36 increases in width along legs 39 and 40 to present a wedge-shaped configuration with the wedge opening toward longitudinal end 38.
Referring to FIGURE 4, the class 1 lever action produced by lifting on end 38 causes narrow-width end 36 to break sheet metal along the curved configuration scoreline portion 42. However, legs 39 and 40 of the wedge shaped configuration of the tab opener cross the scoreline at points 44 and 46 and supplement the fulcrum action of rivet means 34, that is legs 39 and 40 act to stabilize the position of the fulcrum of the class 1 lever along the longitudinal axis of the tab opener 30. Further, legs 39 and 40, in crossing of the scoreline, spread metal at the periphery of the puncture and prevent penetration of end 36 to the extent shown in applicants earlier embodiment shown in FIGURE 2. i
As shown in FIGURE 5, legs 39 and 40 crossing the scoreline at points 44 and 46 cause sheet metal along the scoreline to bulge outwardly, that is away from the opening, at these points. Therefore, upon pulling back tab opener 30 to complete opening of the container there is no binding of the sheet metal which has penetrated below the surface of the remainder of the sheet metal blank with metal along the periphery of the puncture. Absence of binding makes possible the complete removal of the scored portion of the end closure in a smooth succession of steps.
While the embodiment shown depicts a ring-pull tab opener and a pour-opening scoreline, it is understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments since a tab opener of other configurations, such as a generally rectangular configuration with the wedge-shaped configuration can be used with either a pour-opening end closure and the scoreline configuration can extend around the circumference of the end closure to provide a fullopen end closure. Also the teachings of the invention are applicable to any of the conventional sheet metals used for making metallic end closures.
What is claimed is:
1. Hand-openable sheet metal end closure for a container comprising a sheet metal blank, 1 an elongated tab opener means having a narrow-width longitudinal end and a remaining longitudinal end, the narrow-width end having a curvilinear edge conopener means to the scored area of the sheet metal blank, the tab opener means being thus secured to the sheet metal blank so as to constitute a class 1 lever with the means for securing the tab opener figuration from which the width of the tab opener 5 means acting as a fulcrum so that the curvilinear means increases to define a wedge-shaped configuraedge narrow-width longitudinal end of the tab opener tion opening in the direction of the remaining longimeans punctures the sheet metal blank and forces a tudinal end of the tab opener means, portion of the scored area of the sheet metal downa scoreline of diminished metal thickness in the sheet wardly below the remainder of the sheet metal blank metal blank defining an area to be removed by the by a lifting action at the remaining longitudinal end tab opener means, the scoreline having a curvilinear of the tab opener means, with the wedge-shaped porportion for initiating removal of the area defined by tion of the tab opener means acting to spread sheet the scoreline from the sheet metal blank, and metal along the scoreline of the sheet metal blank means for securing the tab opener means to the scored for easy removal of sheet metal extending downarea of h sheet t l blank, such means being [0- wardly below the remainder of the sheet metal blank.
' cated within the area defined by the scoreline contiguous to the curvilinear portion for initiating removal of the area defined by the scoreline, so that a perpendicular projection of the curvilinear edge of References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS the narrow width longitudinal end of the tab opener 3250426 5/1966 Fr'aze 220-54 means lies within and substantially parallel to the 3,341,055 9/1967 Radford 220-554 3,342,367 9/1967 Irland 220-54 contiguous curvilinear configuration portion of the scoreline and such that a perpendicular projection of the wedge-shaped configuration portion of the tab THERON ONDON, Przmary Exammer.
opener means crosses the scoreline adjacent to and GEORGE T HALL, Assistant Examiner. on opposite sides of the means for securing the tab
US599442A 1966-12-06 1966-12-06 Hand-opening sheet metal end closure Expired - Lifetime US3415411A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US599442A US3415411A (en) 1966-12-06 1966-12-06 Hand-opening sheet metal end closure
NL6716563A NL6716563A (en) 1966-12-06 1967-12-05
DE19671607897 DE1607897A1 (en) 1966-12-06 1967-12-05 Sheet metal container for opening by hand
FR1561971D FR1561971A (en) 1966-12-06 1967-12-06
GB55392/67A GB1202077A (en) 1966-12-06 1967-12-06 Improvements in container closures

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US599442A US3415411A (en) 1966-12-06 1966-12-06 Hand-opening sheet metal end closure

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US3415411A true US3415411A (en) 1968-12-10

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US599442A Expired - Lifetime US3415411A (en) 1966-12-06 1966-12-06 Hand-opening sheet metal end closure

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US (1) US3415411A (en)
DE (1) DE1607897A1 (en)
FR (1) FR1561971A (en)
GB (1) GB1202077A (en)
NL (1) NL6716563A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3762597A (en) * 1972-02-18 1973-10-02 Stolle Corp Can with easy-open captive tear strip
US5522521A (en) * 1995-02-08 1996-06-04 Nagashio; Kichinosuke Pull tab type beverage container and method of making
US6394241B1 (en) * 1999-10-21 2002-05-28 Simula, Inc. Energy absorbing shear strip bender
US20030071042A1 (en) * 2001-10-12 2003-04-17 Adams Brian M. Closure including cap and fitment having gripping member
US20100294812A1 (en) * 2006-12-22 2010-11-25 Portola Packaging, Inc Internal container bore mount fitment

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3223286C2 (en) * 1982-06-22 1994-01-20 Schmalbach Lubeca Tear-off lid for cans with a tear-open area that is small in relation to the lid diameter and limited by a notch line

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3250426A (en) * 1964-02-24 1966-05-10 Ermal C Fraze Pre-puncturing tab
US3341055A (en) * 1965-10-22 1967-09-12 Jafford Inc Container opening device
US3342367A (en) * 1965-10-20 1967-09-19 Continental Can Co Window can end unit

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3250426A (en) * 1964-02-24 1966-05-10 Ermal C Fraze Pre-puncturing tab
US3342367A (en) * 1965-10-20 1967-09-19 Continental Can Co Window can end unit
US3341055A (en) * 1965-10-22 1967-09-12 Jafford Inc Container opening device

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3762597A (en) * 1972-02-18 1973-10-02 Stolle Corp Can with easy-open captive tear strip
US5522521A (en) * 1995-02-08 1996-06-04 Nagashio; Kichinosuke Pull tab type beverage container and method of making
US6394241B1 (en) * 1999-10-21 2002-05-28 Simula, Inc. Energy absorbing shear strip bender
US20030071042A1 (en) * 2001-10-12 2003-04-17 Adams Brian M. Closure including cap and fitment having gripping member
US20100294812A1 (en) * 2006-12-22 2010-11-25 Portola Packaging, Inc Internal container bore mount fitment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1561971A (en) 1969-04-04
NL6716563A (en) 1968-06-07
DE1607897A1 (en) 1970-08-27
GB1202077A (en) 1970-08-12

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