US3430802A - Easy-opening can - Google Patents

Easy-opening can Download PDF

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Publication number
US3430802A
US3430802A US638356A US3430802DA US3430802A US 3430802 A US3430802 A US 3430802A US 638356 A US638356 A US 638356A US 3430802D A US3430802D A US 3430802DA US 3430802 A US3430802 A US 3430802A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
panel
opening
score
removable
tab
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
US638356A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Leonard Thomas La Croce
Raymond Luscombe Batchelar
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.)
Primerica Inc
Original Assignee
American Can Co
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 American Can Co filed Critical American Can Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3430802A publication Critical patent/US3430802A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B65D17/4011—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 completely 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

Definitions

  • the removable section is defined by an endless score line which is disposed around the periphery of the top end panel, and the opening tab is secured to the removable section by a rivet at a point which is close to the score line so that the user can pull upwardly on one end of the opening tab to cause its other end to move downwardly and exert a downward force at or near the outer edge of the end panel to initiate the rupture of the score line. Thereafter, a continued upward and backward pulling on the opening tab causes further tearing of the rnetal in the score on both sides of the area of initial rupture and effects the eventual complete detachment of the removable section from the can.
  • Such a design has an .inherent disadvantage, particularly when utilized in a round can having a circular score, in that after the breaking out of the removable section has been initiated by the upward pulling on the opening tab, further pulling on the opening tab to effect continued tearing of the score produces an upward bowing of the end panel into a generally transversely crowned or convex configuration which renders the end panel relatively stiff and inexible.
  • This crowning of the panel is particularly evident during the initial stages of this tearing of the score, since in these stages those portions of the score which are being torn extend laterally away from the direction in which the opening tab is being pulled, rather than being parallel to it.
  • This condition is not conducive to easy tearing of the score, so that the pulling force on ite States Patent O EABZ Patented Mar. 4, 1969 ICC the opening tab which is required to tear the score is often greater than that required to cause the upward bowing of the end panel, and thus the bowing does occur.
  • the bowed configuration of the end panel renders it relatively rigid and inflexible and prevents its torn out portion from curling or bending upwardly as the opening operation progresses so that the opening force, instead of being concentrated .in those areas of the score where the tears are being made, is distributed by the stiffened end panel over a large portion of the score line on either side of the opening tab. This further increases the force required to open the container.
  • the present invention overcomes these problems by providing transverse beads in the removable section which reinforce it against upward bowing and thus prevent it from pulling the countersink wall inwardly during the opening operation.
  • the beads provide break lines, or preformed lines of bend, which promotes the upward curling of the removable panel as it is being removed. As a result, the container can be easily removed without distortion of the countersink wall and with a relatively small opening force.
  • FIG. l is a plan view of a can having an end closure made in accordance with the concepts of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the positions of the parts after the opening tab has been pulled upwardly to initiate the breaking out of the removable section;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 4-4 and showing the arrangement of the parts after the opening tab has been pulled upwardly and backwardly a suiiicient distance to separate a portion of the removable section from the remainder of the end closure, the view clearly illustrating the desired upward curling or bending of the already separated portion of the removable section.
  • FIG. l a cylindrical can C provided with a circular top end closure having a generally flat wall with a removable section or central panel 12 which is defined by a peripheral circular score line 14 which encircles it.
  • an opening tab 15 is secured to the central panel 12 by a rivet 16 which is formed integral with the central panel 12 and which has an annular vertical shank wall 18 which extends through a hole formed in the opening tab 15, a transverse top wall 20, and an annular expanded bead 22 which holds the opening tab against the central panel 12.
  • the opening tab 15 includes a handle portion 25 which has an upturned end portion 27 which is easily grasped by the fingers of the user. Elongated hem portions 29 of the tab 15 border a central web portion 30 which is formed with a U-shaped slit 32 which defines a flap 34 wherein is located the hole in which the rivet 16 is secured.
  • the front end portion 36 of the opening tab 15 lies entirely outside of the U-shaped slit 32 so that when the handle portion is lifted upwardly, the iiap 34 is held iiatly against the central panel 12 by the rivet 16 while a fold line develops between the ends of the U-shaped slit 32 as the rotating elongated hem portions 29 and the front end portion 36 of the tab 15 exert a downward force on the end panel 12 at or near the score line 14 to rupture the score and initiate the breaking out of the removable end panel 12, as seen in FIG. 3.
  • the outer periphery of the removable panel 12 merges into an upwardly extending annular countersink wall 40 having a step 42 which includes a shoulder portion 44 and divides the countersink wall 40 into an upper portion 45 and a lower portion 46.
  • the tab 15 preferably is disposed below the level of the step 42.
  • Extending outwardly from the upper countersink wall portion 45 is an annular end iiange 47 which is inteifolded with the upper end portion of a can body 48 in a double seam 49.
  • the end ange 47 is shown in dot and dash lines in FIG. 2 as it exists prior to the double seaming operation.
  • the general construction of the end closure heretofore described is covered by United States application for Letters Patent Ser. No. 624,051, filed Mar. 17, 1967, in the names of Leonard Thomas La Croce and Raymond Luscombe Batchelar.
  • An annular groove G is preferably provided in the can body 48 below the lower countersink wall portion 46 to shield the raw edge E which is created when the removable end panel 12 is stripped from the can.
  • the can C contains a product (not shown) and is closed at its bottom in any suitable manner.
  • the removable central panel 12 has formed in it a series of beads, 50 through 56, which are impressed downwardly in the panel and extend generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the opening tab 15 (which axis lies along the line 4 4) and to the direction in which the opening tab 15 is pulled to remove the end panel 12 from the remainder of the end closure 16 after the opening tab has been lifted to initiate the tearing of the score line 14.
  • FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of the parts after the opening tab 15 has been further pulled upwardly and, also, to some extent, in a rearward direction diametrally of the end 10, along its own axis to extend the tearing of the score line 14 in opposite directions from the point 0f original rupture to thereby separate a major portion of the removable central panel 12 from the end closure 10.
  • the removable central panel curls or bends upwardly to assume a substantially curvilinear configuration as the opening tab 15 is thus pulled, the upward curling or bending of the end panel being promoted by the beads 50-56 which provide preformed break lines in the central panel 12.
  • This upward curling of the panel 12 during the opening operation has the etiect of concentrating the opening force exerted by the consumer on the opening tab 15 in those areas of the score line 14 where the tearing action is developing. This concentration of forces at such areas substantially reduces the effort required to remove the removable end panel 12 from the container.
  • the principal function of the beads 50-56 is to transversely reinforce the removable panel 12 against upward bowing during the opening operation, and thus prevent the countersink wall 40 from being pulled radially inwardly toward the center of the can C. If the countersink wall 40 could be pulled to a position where it would project inwardly beyond the protective groove G, the raw edge E created by the tearing of the score 14 would constitute a hazard to the consumer. The elimination of this distortion of the countersink wall 40 reduces the force required to open the can. f
  • the beads 50-56 instead of being indented into the end panel 14, may also project upwardly therefrom and still function eiciently to reinforce the panel 12 against upward bowing and to facilitate the upward curling of the panel 12 during the opening operation. It is also obvious that the opening tab 15 may be seamed to the end panel in some other suitable manner, as by welding.
  • An end closure for a can comprising a countersink wall, a score line defining a removable section surrounded by said wall, an opening tab extending from said section and adapted to be pulled upwardly to tear said removable section free from said can, and a plurality of parallel beads extending substantially perpendicular to the general direction in which said tab is pulled to prevent upward bowing of the removable section and permit the opened portion of said removable section to curl so that a comparatively small force is necessary to separate the removable section from the panel when said tab is pulled upwardly.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)
US638356A 1967-05-15 1967-05-15 Easy-opening can Expired - Lifetime US3430802A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US63835667A 1967-05-15 1967-05-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3430802A true US3430802A (en) 1969-03-04

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US638356A Expired - Lifetime US3430802A (en) 1967-05-15 1967-05-15 Easy-opening can

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US (1) US3430802A (en))
CH (1) CH471721A (en))
FR (1) FR1561840A (en))
GB (1) GB1217604A (en))

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3591037A (en) * 1969-02-24 1971-07-06 Aluminum Co Of America Container with removable panel portion
US3715050A (en) * 1971-02-25 1973-02-06 American Can Co Full panel easy open end
US3715051A (en) * 1971-11-30 1973-02-06 American Can Co Easy opening container
US3891116A (en) * 1972-12-14 1975-06-24 American Can Co Full-open easy-open container
EP1055607A3 (en) * 1999-05-18 2001-05-16 Ishida Co., Ltd. Container lid

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2074598A1 (en)) * 1970-01-08 1971-10-08 Cebal Gp
FR2602485B1 (fr) * 1986-08-06 1988-11-25 Franpac Couvercle metallique a panneaux d'ouverture pre-incise
BR9402301A (pt) * 1994-07-22 1996-04-30 Rheem Ind Comerc Sa Corpo de lata com sistema de proteçao anti-corte e processo de abtençao de um corpo de lata com sistema de proteçao anti-corte

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1215451A (fr) * 1958-07-12 1960-04-19 Inst Portugues De Conservas De Tampon-couvercle pour boîtes de conserves
US3366270A (en) * 1966-05-27 1968-01-30 Continental Can Co Pull tab for easy opening can end

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1215451A (fr) * 1958-07-12 1960-04-19 Inst Portugues De Conservas De Tampon-couvercle pour boîtes de conserves
US3366270A (en) * 1966-05-27 1968-01-30 Continental Can Co Pull tab for easy opening can end

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3591037A (en) * 1969-02-24 1971-07-06 Aluminum Co Of America Container with removable panel portion
US3715050A (en) * 1971-02-25 1973-02-06 American Can Co Full panel easy open end
US3715051A (en) * 1971-11-30 1973-02-06 American Can Co Easy opening container
US3891116A (en) * 1972-12-14 1975-06-24 American Can Co Full-open easy-open container
EP1055607A3 (en) * 1999-05-18 2001-05-16 Ishida Co., Ltd. Container lid

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH471721A (de) 1969-04-30
GB1217604A (en) 1970-12-31
FR1561840A (en)) 1969-03-28

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