US3543961A - Protective arrangementin an easy-opening container - Google Patents

Protective arrangementin an easy-opening container Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3543961A
US3543961A US780318A US3543961DA US3543961A US 3543961 A US3543961 A US 3543961A US 780318 A US780318 A US 780318A US 3543961D A US3543961D A US 3543961DA US 3543961 A US3543961 A US 3543961A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
container
central panel
metal
panel portion
easy
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
US780318A
Inventor
James E Kennedy
James R Pound
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.)
Sonoco Products Co
Original Assignee
Container 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 Container Corp filed Critical Container Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3543961A publication Critical patent/US3543961A/en
Assigned to SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY reassignment SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Assigned to BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, THE, NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC, CHEMICAL BANK, BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, 280 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017, MANUFACTURERS HANOVER TRUST COMPANY reassignment BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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

Definitions

  • tfi g e ABSTRACT A container having a tubular body and a pair of corpus aware end members, at least one of the end members being formed [54] PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENT IN AN EASY- of metal and having a peripheral portion and a removable central panel portion with a pull tab mounted thereon, the end member being formed with a single line of weakness on the ?ZE;L ES 2S; inner surface thereof at the juncture of the peripheral and the g igs. 1
  • This invention relates to a container of the easy-opening type having a tubular body formed of fibreboard or metal and a pair of end members, at least one of which is formed of metal and having a pull tab mounted thereon for easy-opening of the container and, more particularly, to a container of the type described having an arrangement for protecting the users hand when inserted into the opened container.
  • the end member has a peripheral portion and a removable central panel portion, the line of weakness being formed on the inner surface of the end member at the juncture of the peripheral portion with the central panel portion and immediately adjacent the wall of the container so that, when the'central panel portion is removed, no protrusion of metal will extend in+ wardly from the container walla distance substantially greater than the thickness of the metal in the peripheral portion.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container embodying the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing thecentral panel portion removed from the container;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the container before removal of the central panel portion of the end member;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of the container shown in FIG. 4, but after removal of the central panel portion of the end member;
  • a container embodying the present invention, is generally designated 10 and has a tubular body 12 which may be formed of either paperboard or metal.
  • the tubular body is closed by a pair of end members 14 secured to the ends thereof by means well known in the art.
  • the end members are normally formed of metal, such as steel or aluminum.
  • one of the end members 14 ' (only the upper end member being shown in the drawing) has a peripheral portion 16 which'is secured to the top edge of the body 12 by conventional means.
  • a removable central panel portion 18 is integrally formed with the peripheral portion 16 and detachably joined to the inner edge thereof along an uninterrupted single line of weakness 20 formed on the inner surface of the end member 14. It will be observed, from FIGS-3- '5, that the line of weakness 20 is located immediately adjacent the inner surface of the body 12 for the purposes to be explained in detail later.
  • the removable central panel portion 18 has a pull tab 22 mounted thereon by a rivet 24 formed from material of the removable central panel portion 18 by means well known in the packaging industry.
  • a nose 26 of the pull tab 22 is positioned in an overlying relationship to the line of weakness 20, while a ring segment 28 of the pull tab extends toward the center of the removable panel portion.
  • FIG. 6 there is'shown a portion of an apparatus, generally designated 30, the apparatus being used in the formation of the line of weakness 20 in the end member 14.
  • the apparatus 30 includes a stationary support member 32 which has a cutting element 34 formed in the top surface thereof.
  • the supportmernber receives the end member 14 in such a manner that the point of the end member representing the juncture between the peripheral portion 16 and the removable central panel portion 18 is located directly against the cutting element 34.
  • a compression member 36 is positioned above the support member 32 and is movable in a vertical direction so that, when it is moved in a downward direction, will sandwich the end'member 14 between the compression member 36and the support member 32. This operation'will cause the cutting element 34 to be forced into the end member 14 whereby a cut will be made into the end member 14 representing the line of weakness 20.
  • a protective arrangement for a container of the easyopening type having a tubular body, a pair of end members secured to the opposite ends of said body, at least one of said end members being formed of metal and comprising:
  • said single line of weakness being located on an inner surface of said end member at a juncture of said central panel portion with said peripheral portion and immediately adjacent an inner surface of said body to facilitate removal of said central panel portion by operation of said pull tab for opening said container;

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)

Description

United States Patent 1111 3,543,961
72] invento James Ke y; 3,415,412 12/1968 Robinson et a1 1. 220/54 N giggigs P n Louis, Missouri 3,450,301 6/1969 Sted et al. 220/54 Dec: 1968 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Patented 1970 Attorney-Carpenter, Ostis and Lindberg [73] Assignee Container Corporation of America Chins)! tfi g e ABSTRACT: A container having a tubular body and a pair of corpus aware end members, at least one of the end members being formed [54] PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENT IN AN EASY- of metal and having a peripheral portion and a removable central panel portion with a pull tab mounted thereon, the end member being formed with a single line of weakness on the ?ZE;L ES 2S; inner surface thereof at the juncture of the peripheral and the g igs. 1
central panel portlons and 1mmed1ately ad acent the tubular LS. wall of container so that when the central panel portion is Int. Cl. 865d removed operation of the tab no protrusion of metal B65d17/24, d 0 will extend inwardly from the inner surface of the body a [50] Field ofSearch 220/54, 48, distance substantially greater than the thickness of the metal in the peripheral portion. The single line of weakness in the inner surface of the end member is formed by placing the end [56] References cued member against a stationary support member having a cutting UNITED STATES PATENTS element and forcing the end member against the cutting ele- 3,338,l99 8/ 1967 Taylor 1 13/15 ment by operation of a movable compression member.
I I \l 20 I I8 i I i I i 20 Patented 1, 1970 3,543,961
' INVENTORS.
JAMES EKENNEDY JAMES R. POUND HEB/5.
am L 12M PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENT IN AN EASY-OPENING CONTAINER BACKGROUND 'OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a container of the easy-opening type having a tubular body formed of fibreboard or metal and a pair of end members, at least one of which is formed of metal and having a pull tab mounted thereon for easy-opening of the container and, more particularly, to a container of the type described having an arrangement for protecting the users hand when inserted into the opened container.
2. Description of the Prior Art In the present day-packaging industry there is'a growing trend to produce containersof the-easy-opening' type whereby the central panel portion of an end member, or end wall, may be readily detached and removed from'the remaining portion without using separate container opening equipment. A problem which has arisen in connection with containers having this feature relates to the danger of cuts and abrasions to the user who may insert his hand into the container after it has been opened. It is likely that the user's hand will be .cut because of its contact with a free, raw protrusion of metal extending from the remaining portion of the end wall into the opening created by removal of the central panel portion.
Various means have been experimented with'by the packaging industry to overcome this problem, such means included various separate shielding devices incorporated into the container to shield the metal protrusions from the users hands. Since in many of these protective devices separate parts were necessary, the cost of manufacture and assembly of a completed container has become uneconomical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION by operation of a movable compression member. The end member has a peripheral portion and a removable central panel portion, the line of weakness being formed on the inner surface of the end member at the juncture of the peripheral portion with the central panel portion and immediately adjacent the wall of the container so that, when the'central panel portion is removed, no protrusion of metal will extend in+ wardly from the container walla distance substantially greater than the thickness of the metal in the peripheral portion.
DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1 and showing thecentral panel portion removed from the container;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the container before removal of the central panel portion of the end member;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of the container shown in FIG. 4, but after removal of the central panel portion of the end member; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a portion'of the apparatus used to form the line of weakness in the container shown in FIG. 1.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawing and will herein be described in detail, an embodiment of the invention with thegunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of the invention, it will be seen'that a container, embodying the present invention, is generally designated 10 and has a tubular body 12 which may be formed of either paperboard or metal. The tubular body is closed by a pair of end members 14 secured to the ends thereof by means well known in the art. The end members are normally formed of metal, such as steel or aluminum.
As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, one of the end members 14 '(only the upper end member being shown in the drawing) has a peripheral portion 16 which'is secured to the top edge of the body 12 by conventional means. A removable central panel portion 18 is integrally formed with the peripheral portion 16 and detachably joined to the inner edge thereof along an uninterrupted single line of weakness 20 formed on the inner surface of the end member 14. It will be observed, from FIGS-3- '5, that the line of weakness 20 is located immediately adjacent the inner surface of the body 12 for the purposes to be explained in detail later.
The removable central panel portion 18 has a pull tab 22 mounted thereon by a rivet 24 formed from material of the removable central panel portion 18 by means well known in the packaging industry.
As best seen in FIGS. I and 3, a nose 26 of the pull tab 22 is positioned in an overlying relationship to the line of weakness 20, while a ring segment 28 of the pull tab extends toward the center of the removable panel portion.
In opening the container, the user inserts his finger through the ring segment 28 and by exerting a slight lift on the ring seglustratedin FIG. 2.- Y
' Referring now to FIG. 6, there is'shown a portion of an apparatus, generally designated 30, the apparatus being used in the formation of the line of weakness 20 in the end member 14. The apparatus 30 includes a stationary support member 32 which has a cutting element 34 formed in the top surface thereof. The supportmernber receives the end member 14 in such a manner that the point of the end member representing the juncture between the peripheral portion 16 and the removable central panel portion 18 is located directly against the cutting element 34. A compression member 36 is positioned above the support member 32 and is movable in a vertical direction so that, when it is moved in a downward direction, will sandwich the end'member 14 between the compression member 36and the support member 32. This operation'will cause the cutting element 34 to be forced into the end member 14 whereby a cut will be made into the end member 14 representing the line of weakness 20.
Referring now to FIG. 5, it can be observed that by having the line 'of weakness 20 positioned at the juncture of the peripheral portion 16 with the central panel portion 18 and immediately adjacent the inner surface of the body 12, the removal of the central panel portion 18 will not produce produce a protrusion of metal extending inwardly from the peripheral portion 16. Thus, the size of the opening will approximate the diameter or cross section of the body 12 less the thickness of metal in the peripheral portion 16. Therefore, a user, desiring to insert his hand into the opened container, will not be subjected to cuts and abrasions normally associated with easy'opening containers.
The formation of the line of weakness on the inner surface of the end member 14 by operation of apparatus 30 facilitates easy rupture of metal and removal of the central panel portion since the metal tears easiest in the direction in which it was to weakening being formed while the metal is under compression provided by the compression member 36 The compression in the metal tends to hold the metal fibre structure together and avoid fractures causing minute metal particles which may mix with the product, packaged in the container to make the product unusable. We claim:
1. In a protective arrangement for a container of the easyopening type having a tubular body, a pair of end members secured to the opposite ends of said body, at least one of said end members being formed of metal and comprising:
a. a peripheral portion secured to an end edge of said body;
b. a removable central panel portion detachably joined to said peripheral portion along an uninterrupted single line of weakness;
c. said central panel portion having a pull tab mounted thereon with the tip of said tab substantially overlying and being in alinement with said line of weakness for rupturing said panel at said line of weakness;
. said single line of weakness being located on an inner surface of said end member at a juncture of said central panel portion with said peripheral portion and immediately adjacent an inner surface of said body to facilitate removal of said central panel portion by operation of said pull tab for opening said container;
. the operation of said pull tab causing said central panel portion to be characterized by the absence of horizontally inwardly extending elements, and being characterized in that said operation causes all remanent portions of said end member being in said peripheral portion and extending downward.
US780318A 1968-12-02 1968-12-02 Protective arrangementin an easy-opening container Expired - Lifetime US3543961A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US78031868A 1968-12-02 1968-12-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3543961A true US3543961A (en) 1970-12-01

Family

ID=25119258

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US780318A Expired - Lifetime US3543961A (en) 1968-12-02 1968-12-02 Protective arrangementin an easy-opening container

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3543961A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3731834A (en) * 1972-03-27 1973-05-08 Procter & Gamble Tear-open closure
US4003496A (en) * 1976-02-17 1977-01-18 The Continental Group, Inc. End closure for container
US4365457A (en) * 1979-06-18 1982-12-28 Max Sandherr Ag Container closure
WO1996030270A1 (en) * 1995-03-30 1996-10-03 Glud & Marstrand A/S A method of seaming a circular cover panel onto the body of a can
ITMO20110334A1 (en) * 2011-12-27 2013-06-28 Filippo Lotti DEVICE FOR THE OPENING BY TAPING A TAP OF CONTAINER COVERS

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3731834A (en) * 1972-03-27 1973-05-08 Procter & Gamble Tear-open closure
US4003496A (en) * 1976-02-17 1977-01-18 The Continental Group, Inc. End closure for container
US4365457A (en) * 1979-06-18 1982-12-28 Max Sandherr Ag Container closure
WO1996030270A1 (en) * 1995-03-30 1996-10-03 Glud & Marstrand A/S A method of seaming a circular cover panel onto the body of a can
US5879120A (en) * 1995-03-30 1999-03-09 Glud & Marstrand A/S Method of seaming a circular cover panel onto the body of a can
ITMO20110334A1 (en) * 2011-12-27 2013-06-28 Filippo Lotti DEVICE FOR THE OPENING BY TAPING A TAP OF CONTAINER COVERS

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3696961A (en) Protective edge for easy opening container
US3547305A (en) Easy opening container
US6685417B2 (en) Safety container end having improved opening characteristics
US3303958A (en) Container construction
US3246791A (en) Can-opening arrangement
CN106132837A (en) There is the end cap of big open annular pulling-on piece
US3543961A (en) Protective arrangementin an easy-opening container
US5069356A (en) Easy open end with temporary retention center for safety purposes
US3263847A (en) Re-useable container
US3104032A (en) Attachment for cutting a collapsible tube and dispensing material therefrom
US2615610A (en) Container with reclosure and shield device
JPH05502001A (en) Convenient feature end closure for container bodies with non-cylindrical side walls
US3182852A (en) Container with pull tab
US4258859A (en) No-fin scored metal ends for containers
GB1598170A (en) Bottle closure and method
US3142412A (en) Opening means for sealed containers
US3627166A (en) Safety can
US3754678A (en) Container end with protective bead
KR880000920B1 (en) Pull tab in a container
US3272381A (en) Can end for easy opening beverage cans
GB1580791A (en) Blister packs
US3463348A (en) Safety can
US3416698A (en) Opening means for a container
US3371818A (en) Plastic tab and inner tape for easy opening can end
US3848557A (en) Method for forming protective edge on easy opening container

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY A CORP. OF SC

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA A CORP. OF IL;REEL/FRAME:004167/0737

Effective date: 19821231

Owner name: SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY,SOUTH CAROLINA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA;REEL/FRAME:004167/0737

Effective date: 19821231

AS Assignment

Owner name: NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA;REEL/FRAME:004858/0656

Effective date: 19860930

Owner name: BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA;REEL/FRAME:004858/0656

Effective date: 19860930

Owner name: MANUFACTURERS HANOVER TRUST COMPANY

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA;REEL/FRAME:004858/0656

Effective date: 19860930

Owner name: CHEMICAL BANK

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA;REEL/FRAME:004858/0656

Effective date: 19860930

Owner name: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, 280 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK,

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA;REEL/FRAME:004858/0656

Effective date: 19860930