Easy-open ecology end

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

• an end wall and means to attach the end wall to a container;
• means in said end wall forming a line of weakness defining a panel at least partially removable to form a pour opening;
• tab means including a lifting end and an opening end;
• said tab including flap means located between the lifting and opening end thereof;
• the opening end of said tab including finger means in alignment with said flap and extending downwardly for contact with said panel,
• rivet means affixed to said flap to secure said tab to said end wall such that the opening end thereof overlies the panel whereby the tab remains affixed to said end wall after formation of said pour opening,
• said line of weakness including a portion located between the opening end of said tab and said rivet, and
• said tab being a longitudinally rigid lever operative as a class two lever to initiate rupture of said portion of the line of weakness in response to lifting the lifting end thereof by said means on the opening end of said tab bearing downwardly against said panel while said flap lifts said rivet and the portion of the end wall surrounding said rivet upwardly and operative as a class 1 lever to fracture the remainder of said line of weakness.

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

• an end wall of sheet material;
• means cooperating with the end wall for attachment to a container;
• means in said end wall defining a panel at least partially circumscribed by a scoreline to form an opening in said end wall;
• tab means including a lifting end and an opening end and finger means on said opening end;
• rivet means to affix said tab means to said end wall such that the opening end thereof overlies and said finger means bear against said panel whereby the tab remains affixed to said end wall after formation of said opening;
• said scoreline including a portion located between the opening end of the tab and said rivet means;
• said tab being a longitudinally rigid lever and including spaced side legs, and being operative in response to raising the lifting end thereof to cause the finger means on the opening end of the tab to bear against said panel and to initiate rupture of the portion of the scoreline located between the opening end of the tab and the affixing means by essentially a class two lever action;
• and
• said tab being operative as a class one lever in response to raising the lifting end thereof to urge said panel downwardly to effect rupture of the remainder of the scoreline.

An easy-opening end structure for use with a container wherein the contents of the container are normally under pressure comprising:

• an end wall of sheet material;
• means cooperating with the end wall for attachment to a container;
• means in said end wall defining a panel partially circumscribed by a scoreline to form an opening in said end wall;
• tab means including a lifting end and an opening end;
• said tab being formed of multiple folds of sheet material and the opening end thereof including depending finger means overlying and bearing against said panel,
• rivet means to affix said tab means to said end wall such that the opening end thereof overlies said panel whereby the tab remains affixed to said end wall after formation of said opening;
• said scoreline including a portion located between the opening end of the tab and said rivet means;
• said panel including hinge means retaining said panel to said end wall upon rupture of said scoreline;
• bead means adjacent at least a portion of said scoreline;
• said tab being a longitudinally rigid lever operative by virture of the internal pressure within the container and said finger means on the opening end of said tab to function as a class 2 lever in response to raising the lifting end thereof to cause the opening end of the tab to bear against said panel and to initiate rupture of the portion of the scoreline located between the opening end of the tab and the rivet means;
• and
• said tab being operative as a class 1 lever in response to raising the lifting end thereof to urge said panel downwardly to effect rupture of the ramainder of the scoreline and to urge said hinged panel through the formed opening.

An improved tab of sheet material for use with an easy-opening end structure comprising:

• a relatively rigid body member having a lifting end and an opening end spaced from the lifting end;
• said body member including spaced leg means;
• said leg means being curled under to provide for reinforcement of said legs;
• means between said legs and between said lifting and opening end for receiving affixing means to attach said tab to an end structure;
• cross-member means interconnecting said spaced legs at the opening end;
• and
• finger means projecting downwardly from said cross-member and below said legs at said opening end for contacting the panel in the end to be ruptured and operative as a class two lever to initiate rupture of a scoreline and operative as a class one lever to complete rupture thereof.