Easy-open ecology end

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising:

• an end wall of sheet material having means for attaching an end wall to a container,
• a scoreline in said end wall defining a panel which is at least partially removable to form a pour opening in said end wall,
• a tab affixed to said end wall and including a lifting end and an opening end,
• rivet means attaching said tab to said end wall such that the opening end of said tab overlies said panel,
• a portion of said scoreline extending between said rivet means and said opening end of said tab,
• means forming spaced score legs cooperating with said scoreline and extending away from said scoreline, said score legs being located laterally of said rivet means and forming a retaining strip which interconnects said panel to said end wall to form a retained panel,
• said tab being operative to effect rupture of said portion of said scoreline and progressive rupture of the remainder to form a retained panel attached to said end wall and positionable below the end wall, and said end structure having the following characteristics:
• (a) End buckle of greater than 90 pounds per square inch,
• (b) Recovery of greater than 25 pounds per square inch,
• (c) Bulge of greater than 50 pounds per square inch, and
• (d) Tab accessibility as measured between the underside of the opening end of the tab and the opposed end wall of at least 0.070 inch.

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising

• an end wall of sheet material having means for attaching said end wall to a container,
• a scoreline in said end wall defining a panel which is at least partially removable to form a pour opening in said end wall,
• a tab affixed to said end wall and including a lifting end and an opening end,
• rivet means for attaching said tab to said end wall such that the opening end of said tab overlies said panel,
• a rivet well of reduced thickness sheet material surrounding said rivet,
• a portion of said scoreline being located in said rivet well between said rivet and said opening end of said tab,
• a transition coin zone extending from said rivet well and overlying a portion of said scoreline adjacent to said rivet well,
• said panel including a deformation located laterally of said rivet and beneath the opening end of said tab,
• means forming a retaining strip interconnecting said panel to said end wall and located on the side of the rivet opposite said transition coin zone, and
• said tab being operative upon lifting of the lifting end to rupture the portion of the scoreline in said rivet well and to effect progressive rupture of said scoreline and to form said retaining strip by bearing against said panel and said deformation.

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising an end wall of sheet material having means for attaching the end wall to a container,

• a scoreline in said end wall defining a panel which is at least partially removable to form a pour opening in said end wall,
• a tab affixed to said end wall and including a lifting end and an opening end,
• rivet means for attaching said tab to said end wall such that the opening end of the tab overlies said panel,
• a portion of the scoreline extending between said rivet means and said opening end of said tab,
• means forming a retaining strip located laterally of said rivet and rearwardly of said scoreline to hold said panel to said end wall after rupture of said scoreline,
• means forming a transition coin zone located on the side of said rivet opposite said retaining strip and overlying a portion of the scoreline adjacent to said rivet, and
• said tab being operative upon raising of the lifting end to effect rupture of said portion of said scoreline and to effect progressive rupture of the remainder of said scoreline thereby to form an opening in said end wall and to form said retaining strip and to retain both said panel and said tab.

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container comprising an end wall of sheet material having means for attaching the end wall to a container,

• a scoreline in said end wall defining a panel which is at least partially removable to form a pour opening in said end wall,
• a tab affixed to said end wall and including a lifting end and an opening end,
• said tab formed of a single sheet of an aluminum alloy having zero temper and provided with longitudinally extending stiffening and reenforcing ribs,
• a mounting ear forming an integral part of said tab,
• rivet means for attaching said mounting ear to said end wall such that the opening end of the tab overlies said panel,
• a portion of the scoreline extending between said rivet means and said opening end of said tab,
• means forming a retaining strip located laterally of said rivet to hold said panel to said end wall after rupture of said scoreline, and
• said tab being operative upon raising of the lifting end to effect rupture of said portion of said scoreline and to effect progressive rupture of the remainder of said scoreline, thereby to form an opening in said end wall and to form said retaining strip and to retain both said panel and said tab to said end wall, the zero temper of said alloy permitting the tab to be subject to repeated bending movements without separation from the end wall.