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US 10,661,943 B2Granted
Metal end closure with an extended score which is opened with a secondary tool
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsErik E. Gatewood, Mark A. Jacober
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A metallic container end closure is provided that generally comprises a primary pour opening and an extended or secondary score which is opened with a secondary tool to form a secondary pour opening. The fact that a secondary tool is required allows the secondary score to be shallower, and thus more secure than deeper scores that are openable by finger pressure alone. Once the secondary tool is used to fracture the secondary score, a secondary pour opening is produced adjacent to the primary pour opening to form a larger opening. A user may insert materials such as ice or oranges through the enlarged pour opening.
Claims20
A container end closure with a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising:
- a central panel having a rivet interconnecting a pull tab to an upper surface of said central panel, said pull tab adapted for applying a downward force, wherein a nose of said pull tab is rotatable about said rivet to define an area of engagement about said rivet;
- a primary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said primary tear panel at least partially defined by a primary score extending from a starting point to a termination point and defined by a first hinge, wherein at least a portion of said primary tear panel is positioned in said area of engagement, said primary score configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to deflect said primary tear panel about said first hinge and create a primary pour opening;
- and
- a secondary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score extending from a starting point to a termination point and defined by a second hinge, wherein said secondary tear panel is positioned outside of said area of engagement, and said secondary score configured to be sheared by a downward force generated by a secondary tool to deflect said secondary tear panel about said second hinge and create a secondary pour opening, wherein said primary pour opening and said secondary pour opening combine to form a contiguous pour opening area.
1 more element
A container end closure with a peripheral curl adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising:
- a central panel having a rivet interconnecting a pull tab to an upper surface of said central panel, said pull tab adapted for applying a downward force, wherein a nose of said pull tab is rotatable about said rivet to define an area of engagement about said rivet;
- a primary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said primary tear panel at least partially defined by a primary score extending from a starting point to a termination point, wherein said primary score is configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to create a primary pour opening;
- a secondary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score extending from a starting point to a termination point, wherein said secondary tear panel is positioned outside of said area of engagement, and said secondary score configured to be sheared by a downward force generated by a secondary tool to create a secondary pour opening;
- and
- a transition zone extending from said termination point of said primary score to said starting point of said secondary score, wherein said transition zone is configured to be sheared by said downward force generated by said secondary tool, and said primary pour opening and said secondary pour opening combine to form a contiguous pour opening area to enhance pour characteristics and selectively allow insertion of additional materials into said container.
2 more elements
A metallic container end closure, comprising:
- a central panel having a rivet interconnecting a pull tab to an upper surface of said central panel, said pull tab adapted for applying a downward force, and said central panel having a transition portion between a deboss area and a non-deboss area of said central panel, wherein a nose of said pull tab is rotatable about said rivet to define an area of engagement about said rivet;
- a primary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said primary score configured to be sheared by said downward force of said pull tab to create a primary pour opening;
- and
- a secondary tear panel disposed on said central panel, said secondary tear panel at least partially defined by a secondary score and defined by a second hinge, wherein at least a portion of said transition portion is said second hinge, wherein said secondary tear panel is positioned outside of said area of engagement, and said secondary score is configured to be sheared by a downward force generated by a secondary tool to deflect said secondary tear panel about said second hinge and create a secondary pour opening, wherein said primary pour opening and said secondary pour opening combine to form a contiguous pour opening area to enhance pour characteristics.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.